A Peruvian judge approved early release to house arrest for a U.S. citizen jailed since 1995 on terrorism charges of unlawful collaboration with the Marxist-Leninist Túpac Amaru Resistance Movement (MRTA) rebels during Fujimori's Presidency. Judge Maria Jessica León Yarango of the First Supra-Provincial Criminal Court of the Superior Court of Justice of Lima ordered Lori Berenson's release to house arrest, subject to several conditions, including that she neither leave Peru nor contact or visit inmates still in prison on terrorism charges. Berenson, originally sentenced to life imprisonment by a hooded military tribunal for violating anti-terrorism laws decreed by then-President Fujimori, has served almost 15 years of a 20-year sentence imposed at her retrial in a civilian court. Her conditional release to live in Miraflores, an upscale tourist district of Lima, however, has been greeted with concern by nearby businesses and residents who worry about post-release supervision and public safety, according to Peruvian media. Moreover, Peru's President Alan Garcia, former Justice Minister Aurelio Pastor, and the former president of the Superior Court Marcos Ibazeta, who rendered Berenson's 20-year sentence in 2002, are quoted in yesterday's media questioning whether Berenson, a convicted terrorist who has not made a public declaration of remorse, should have been granted parole. President Garcia called the law allowing her early release a mistake but expressed respect for the judicial decision and the independence of the judiciary. Today, Justice Minister Victor Garcia Toma posted his proposal of an Executive expulsion of Berenson and its legal justification on the Ministry's website. If President Garcia would commute her sentence, she could be immediately deported. Minister Garcia Toma indicated the President's Council of Ministers will consider this legal option next week. More

The Interdisciplinary Journal of Human Rights Law (IJHRL) is an annual, peer-reviewed scholarly journal published by the Council for American Students in International Negotiations. The journal invites quality submissions from scholars, jurists, and professionals in fields related to human rights. Occasionally, exceptional student work will be accepted. IJHRL also welcomes review essays, book reviews, and comments/notes from the field. Manuscripts are accepted on a rolling basis, with preference given to submissions received before July 1, 2010 for the upcoming issue. More

In the inaugural Foreign Affairs Essay Contest, a panel from the Foreign Affairs editorial staff will select one undergraduate's essay to be published on the Foreign Affairs website. The winner will also receive a prize of $500, and five honorable mentions will receive a free year-long subscription to Foreign Affairs. Open to all undergraduate students of accredited colleges and universities worldwide graduating no earlier than May 2010. The deadline for submissions is June 1, 2010. More

The Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa (ASMEA) is currently seeking proposals for paper presentations at its 2010 annual conference, to be held on November 4-6, 2010 in Washington, D.C. Members from any discipline, tenured or untenured faculty or those otherwise affiliated with a recognized research institution, may submit proposals to participate in the conference. Unique proposals from senior graduate students will also be considered. The deadline for proposals is June 4, 2010. More

The Society of American Law Teachers (SALT) is pleased to announce the Norman Dorsen/Stuart & Ellen Filler Fellowship, a one academic-year (9-month) fellowship focused on issues in legal education and not-for-profit development to begin in August 2010. The Dorsen/Filler Fellowship seeks a talented, committed, and visionary law school graduate interested in a career in legal education or in development work in a not-for-profit institution. A law degree from a U.S. law school is required by August 2010. The Fellow will be located in the SALT national office on Long Island, NY. The deadline for applications is June 15, 2010. More