The Legal Research Society

On Wednesday 3 rd of December from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm in TAYLOR C11 (opposite to Taylor library entry) The LRS will screen a movie titled “Lion of the Desert” Lion of the Desert is a 1981 historical film starring Anthony Quinn as Libyan tribal leader Omar Mukhtar who led the Libyan resistance against the Italian oppressors from 1911-1931. In 1982 the Italian authorities banned and censored the movie because, it was "damaging to the Italian Army's honour". The Movie will be preceded by a Historical and legal overview (the concept of ‘ jihad ’, International Law of War ) delivered by Khaled Bashir and Ahmed Hassanein , also there will be a discussion after the movie. You are very welcome to come along and enjoy the movie and the refreshments.

Following to what Derek wrote on Central African Republic in his last post, the Prosecutor of International Criminal Court just today announced the decision to open an investigation concerning crimes committed in the Central African Republic. This is what he had to say earlier today: “My Office has carefully reviewed information from a range of sources. We believe that grave crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the Court were committed in the Central African Republic . We will conduct our own independent investigation, gather evidence, and prosecute the individuals who are most responsible.” The opening of investigation is primarily based on alleged crimes against humanity committed against women, which occurred in the context of an armed conflict between the government and rebel forces in the Central African Republic. According to the ICC Prosecutor, the alleged sexual crimes against civilians first timed far outnumber alleged killings of civilians. »The Office has an...

It emerged today that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed confessed to the killing of American journalist Daniel Pearl, who was killed in Pakistan in 2002. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who was apprehended by the American forces in Pakistan in 2003, confessed before a military tribunal at the Guantánamo Bay, Cuba - the centre where the US keeps more than 400 detainees awaiting trials before the special military tribunals the Bush administration set up in wake of the 9/11 atrocities. Mohammed had previous confessed to planning the attacks of 9/11. In addition to this, Mohammed has confessed to have taken responsibility for the 2002 Bali bombings and has made plans for a line of other terrorist attacks. Pearl was working as a journalist for the Wall Street Journal in Pakistan in 2002 when he was kidnapped and later beheaded. Images of the beheading were distributed by the kidnappers on the internet and made for gruesome viewing of Pearl’s last minutes. While the heinous crimes of 9/11 and Pearl's behea...

Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno-Ocampo has today released the ICC's first two indictments arising out of its investigation of war crimes in the Darfur region of Sudan. That evidence is showing that Ahmad Muhammad Harun, former Minister of State for the Interior of the Government of the Sudan, and Ali Kushayb, a leader of the Militia/Janjaweed, jointly committed crimes against the civilian population in Darfur. Indictments allege that Harun and Kushayb bear criminal responsibility in relation to 51 counts of alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes and it also suggests shows they acted together, and with others, with the common purpose of carrying out attacks against the civilian population. You may read press release here .