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Saddam Hussein Sentenced to Death, Legal Experts Question Court Proceedings
An Iraqi court sentenced Saddam Hussein to death by hanging for committing crimes against humanity. The decision was announced on Sunday, just two days before the U.S. mid-term elections. We speak with Scott Horton, the Chairman of the International Law Committee and a member of the Iraqi Bar Association.
On Sunday, an Iraqi special tribunal convicted Saddam Hussein of crimes against humanity and sentenced him to death by hanging. The deposed Iraqi ruler was convicted of the killing of 148 Shi'ite villagers in the town of Dujail in 1982. Seven co-defendants were also convicted and two of them, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, Saddam's half-brother and head of Iraq's domestic intelligence agency and Awad al-Bandar, president of the revolutionary court, also received death sentences. Celebrations in Shi'ite strongholds broke out across the country after the verdict was issued. Here is a resident of Dujail speaking on Sunday about the verdict.
* Ahmed Ajail, resident of Dujail.
Saddam supporters also marched in support of the ousted leader in the Sunni strongholds of Samarra, Hawija, Kirkuk and Tikrit. The verdict came nearly three years after Saddam Hussein was captured in his underground hideaway by American troops. His trial began more than a year ago and was marked by delays, violence and outbursts from Hussein condemning the proceedings. During the course of the trial, three defense lawyers were killed and the original chief judge resigned in protest over government interference. When the verdict was read yesterday, Saddam shouted "You don't decide. You are servants of the occupiers and their followers. You are puppets." Many international legal and human rights experts have questioned the legitimacy of the court. Human Rights Watch issued a statement saying, "Unfortunately, we believe the serious shortcomings in the fairness of the proceedings undermined the legitimacy and credibility of the trial." But President Bush hailed the verdict as a milestone.
* President Bush, speaking November 5th, 2006.
We discuss the trial and verdict of Saddam Hussein as well as take a look at some other legal cases in Iraq with attorney Scott Horton.
* Scott Horton, Chairman of the International Law Committee at the New York Bar Association. Member of the Iraqi Bar Association.
LISTEN ONLINE:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/11/06/1450234
* Ahmed Ajail, resident of Dujail.
Saddam supporters also marched in support of the ousted leader in the Sunni strongholds of Samarra, Hawija, Kirkuk and Tikrit. The verdict came nearly three years after Saddam Hussein was captured in his underground hideaway by American troops. His trial began more than a year ago and was marked by delays, violence and outbursts from Hussein condemning the proceedings. During the course of the trial, three defense lawyers were killed and the original chief judge resigned in protest over government interference. When the verdict was read yesterday, Saddam shouted "You don't decide. You are servants of the occupiers and their followers. You are puppets." Many international legal and human rights experts have questioned the legitimacy of the court. Human Rights Watch issued a statement saying, "Unfortunately, we believe the serious shortcomings in the fairness of the proceedings undermined the legitimacy and credibility of the trial." But President Bush hailed the verdict as a milestone.
* President Bush, speaking November 5th, 2006.
We discuss the trial and verdict of Saddam Hussein as well as take a look at some other legal cases in Iraq with attorney Scott Horton.
* Scott Horton, Chairman of the International Law Committee at the New York Bar Association. Member of the Iraqi Bar Association.
LISTEN ONLINE:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/11/06/1450234
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Tony Blair said today he was opposed to the death penalty, even in the case of Saddam Hussein.
But he said that decisions on whether the former dictator should be executed for his crimes were for the Iraqi courts to make.
Speaking at his regular monthly press conference at 10 Downing Street, Mr Blair repeatedly attempted to bat away the question of whether he wants to see Saddam hanged.
But he finally told reporters: "We are against the death penalty, whether it's Saddam or anybody else.
More
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,,1940854,00.html
But he said that decisions on whether the former dictator should be executed for his crimes were for the Iraqi courts to make.
Speaking at his regular monthly press conference at 10 Downing Street, Mr Blair repeatedly attempted to bat away the question of whether he wants to see Saddam hanged.
But he finally told reporters: "We are against the death penalty, whether it's Saddam or anybody else.
More
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,,1940854,00.html
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