Syrian Blogger Sentenced to Five Years in Jail After Secret Trial
A Syrian court has sentenced a 19-year-old blogger to five years in prison after a secret trial. The blogger, Tal al-Mallohi, was accused of “contacting a foreign country” and leaking secret information.
Israel to Build Army Base in East Jerusalem
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz is reporting the Israeli military has decided to build an army base in East Jerusalem beyond the pre-1967 war green line. The base construction is expected to spark international criticism. Israel has disputed Haaretz’s report.
Trial for Environmental Activist Opens in Utah
An environmental activist has gone on trial in Utah for preventing a mass sell-off of public wilderness in 2008. Tim DeChristopher is charged with interfering with a public auction for disrupting the Bush administration’s last-minute move to auction off oil and gas exploitation rights on vast swaths of federal land. DeChristopher was arrested after he posed as a bidder and bought 22,000 acres of land in an attempt to save the property from drilling. He could face up to 10 years in prison and a $750,000 fine. Hundreds of supporters marched to Salt Lake City’s federal courthouse.