Report on anti-terror bill and human rights [UK Parliament] News
Report on anti-terror bill and human rights [UK Parliament]

Joint Committee on Human Rights — Tenth Report, UK Parliament, March 5, 2005 [report warning that the proposed Prevention of Terrorism Bill does not comply with human rights laws]. Excerpt:

We therefore question whether the degree of prior judicial involvement provided for in the Government's amendments in relation to derogating control orders is compatible with the Convention requirement that deprivations of liberty must be lawful. We question whether an ex parte hearing to determine whether there is a prima facie case for making a control order, followed by an inter partes hearing which is still not fully adversarial because of the use of special advocates in closed sessions, constitutes a sufficient safeguard against arbitrary detention to satisfy the basic requirement of legality.

Read the full text of the report here [PDF]. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US spy Nathan Hale executed in New York

US spy Nathan Hale was executed on September 22, 1776 after he was captured by British forces during the American Revolutionary War. Hale went to British-occupied New York City to gather intelligence on military operations. He was captured and executed within a month, purportedly declaring "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country" before his death at the age of 21. Learn more from the American Battlefield Trust.

Eight executed for witchcraft in Salem

On September 22, 1692, two men and six women were executed for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. Read more about the Salem witchcraft trials in JURIST's Famous Trials series.

Queen Victoria becomes the longest-reigning monarch in UK history

On September 22, 1896, Queen Victoria became the longest-reigning monarch in English history. One of the country's most successful rulers, Victoria oversaw the expansion of the British Empire to its greatest height of power during her reign of 63 years and 7 months. Read Victoria's speeches to the British Parliament from Archive.org.