Iran is currently facing possible UN sanctions over its nuclear program. Last month, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] strongly criticized [JURIST report] new attempts to impose UN sanctions. The Iranian leader said that actions being taken by the US and its allies in the UN Security Council [official website] are illegal and that his country will not accept any pressure. In September, Ahmadinejad denied [JURIST report] that Iran had broken nuclear development regulations in respect to a newly-disclosed nuclear facility. The statement followed a press conference where US, British, French, and German leaders said in a joint statement [press release] that Iran had violated the terms of agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) [official website] by failing to disclose in a timely manner the existence of a nuclear facility. Under the terms [IAEA board report, PDF] of a 2003 protocol [text, PDF] to Iran's original IAEA Safeguards Agreement [text, PDF], Iran was obligated to disclose the existence of the plant prior to construction. Iran has previously said it will completely withdraw [JURIST report] from the IAEA if its "nuclear rights" are taken away.

The decision of the appeals court comes just weeks after the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) [official website] resumed the war crimes trial [JURIST report] of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic [case materials; JURIST news archive]. Karadzic is the alleged mastermind behind the violence against Bosnian Muslims during the Bosnian war [PPU backgrounder]. The war crimes trial resumed last month after the ICTY dismissed [JURIST report] Kardzic's latest motion to delay court proceedings, in which he argued that there had been a violation of his right to a fair hearing because the court had rejected previous evidentiary challenges. Karadzic is defending himself against 11 counts [amended indictment, PDF], including genocide and murder.

Same-sex marriages are currently recognized in Buenos Aires and Mexico City [JURIST reports]. Uruguay remains the only Latin American country that has nationally legalized same-sex civil unions. Uruguay has since expanded the rights given to same-sex couples by passing a law last year allowing same-sex couples to adopt [JURIST report]. Canada [JURIST report] is the only American nation to have legalized same-sex marriage, and Spain [JURIST report] is the only nation in the Spanish-speaking world to have done the same. Both nations legalized gay marriage in 2005.

Fonseka successfully won a seat in parliament last month, despite facing two separate court-martials charging him with participating in politics while in uniform and with improperly awarding army procurement contracts. Last month, he appeared before parliament to call for his freedom [JURIST report] and for respect for the "rule of law." Fonseka was arrested [JURIST report] by the military in February after losing presidential elections held the previous month. In March, the former chief justice of the Supreme Court criticized [JURIST report] the government's treatment of Fonseka. Sarath Nanda Silva, who retired from the Sri Lankan Supreme Court last year, accused the government of using the military justice system to prevent Fonseka from participating in the upcoming elections and of violating Fonseka's civil rights. Silva also said that Fonseka's arrest was made in violation of the country's constitution [text].

The Danish cartoons depicting Mohammed were originally published in a Danish newspaper in 2005, leading to worldwide protests and lawsuits for those who reprinted the cartoons, including suits in Yemen, France, and Jordan [JURIST reports]. The Danish government did not press criminal charges [JURIST report] against the Danish newspaper that originally printed the articles. Last month, US citizen David Headley pleaded guilty [JURIST report] to 12 counts of federal terrorism, including charges related to an alleged plot against the Danish creator and publishers of the controversial cartoons.

In narcoanalysis, the suspect is injected with drugs such as sodium thiopental, which cause him to be more susceptible to questioning. Evidence obtained through the use of narcoanalysis or polygraphs was previously inadmissible in Indian court under the Evidence Act 1872 [text], but police could use the information to lead to other evidence that might be admissible.

Gay rights continue to be a contentious issue both in New York and throughout the country. In December, the New York Senate rejected legislation [JURIST report] that would have legalized same-sex marriage [JURIST news archive] in the state. Last year, the Manhattan Surrogate Court ruled that the surviving partner of a same-sex marriage performed in Canada is entitled to inherit the estate [JURIST report] of a deceased spouse. In 2008, New York Governor David Paterson issued a mandate requiring that any and all out-of-state same-sex marriages be recognized [JURIST report] as legal within the state of New York. Same-sex marriage is currently legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Washington, DC [JURIST reports]. Same-sex civil unions are currently recognized in Washington, New Jersey, Oregon, and Nevada [JURIST reports].

The security certificate law, used to arrest and deport non-Canadians considered threats to national security, has become controversial in recent years because it relies on evidence heard in secret, and detainees are not informed in full detail of the allegations against them. Earlier in December, it was reported that the Canadian government has begun reviewing [JURIST report] its security certificate system. Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan [official profile] said the government is considering making significant changes to the law or abolishing it completely. In September, the government withdrew [National Post report] a certificate against Moroccan-born Montreal resident Adil Charkaoui in lieu of subjecting its evidence against him to review in court. Charkaoui is also suing the government.