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Turkish criminal court sentences pianist for insulting Islam on Twitter
The Istanbul 19th criminal court convicted well-known Turkish pianist Fazil Say on Monday for insulting Islam and inciting hatred. Say was given a suspended 10-month sentence [Hurriyet Daily News report]. The controversial case focused on several c (More) |
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Bahrain court reverses convictions for 21 medics arrested during anti-government protests
An appeals court in Bahrain on Thursday vacated convictions for 21 medics who were arrested at a hospital during anti-government protests in 2011. The group of medics were originally charged with taking part in unauthorized demonstrations after tre (More) |
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Bahrain activists sentenced to 10 years in jail
Bahrain lawyer Jassim Sarhan confirmed Tuesday that 13 pro-democracy activists were sentenced to 10 years in jail. The sentences arise from attacks by the activists on police officers during recent protests. The activists are among dozens convicted (More) |
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Bahrain rights activists on hunger strike
Two Bahraini human rights activists have intensified their hunger strike and are refusing fluids, according to a report released Monday by the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) . According to the report Zainab al-Khawaja and her father, promi (More) |
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Bahrain court acquits human rights activist
A court in Bahrain on Monday acquitted human rights activist Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafda on charges of spreading false news to harm the country's security on Twitter . The human rights activist informed Reuters that after he spent a month in jail, the (More) |
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Bahrain female activist sentenced to 3 months in jail
A court of appeals in Bahrain overturned the acquittal of Zainab al-Khawaja, who is accused of insulting a government employee, and sentenced her to three months of imprisonment on Friday, according to the Bahrain State New Agency (BNA). Al-Khawaja (More) |
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Bahrain court acquits 2 policemen in protester death
The Bahrain Higher Criminal Court on Tuesday acquitted two police officers in the shooting death of a Shiite protester during the nation's pro-democracy protests in Manama that began in February 2011. Bahraini lawyer Mohammed al-Jishi who represent (More) |
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UAE court upholds sentences for Somali pirates
The Abu Dhabi Federal Appeal Court on Monday upheld the sentences of 10 Somali pirates convicted of highjacking a UAE-owned bulk-carrier ship. In April 2011, the men reportedly commandeered the MV Arrilah-1 as it hauled aluminum in the Arabian Sea (More) |
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Bahrain police officer sentenced to 7 years for killing protester
A police officer in Bahrain has been sentenced to seven years of imprisonment for fatally shooting a protester during pro-democracy protests that gripped country in February 2011, according to Bahrain's State News Agency (BNA). Lead Prosecutor for (More) |
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Bahrain court releases human rights activist on bail pending trial
A court in Bahrain on Thursday released human rights activist Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafda on bail pending trial for charges of spreading false news to harm security, according to Amnesty International (AI) . Al-Muhafda, the acting deputy head of the B (More) |
Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance
On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools.
The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was more recently the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life offers more Pledge of Allegiance resources.
