Curtis FJ Doebbler, an international human rights lawyer who is among a group of lawyers trying to get official status to represent Saddam Hussein, has stated that he believes that Saddam's legal rights have been violated.
Doebbler unofficially represents Saddam, on a pro bono basis.
Doebbler says that the most basic violation is the fact that Saddam didn't have the right to choose his own legal representation.
Quote:
"It is true that I am willing to represent him and it is true that there are other much more senior lawyers than myself that have expressed themselves as being willing to represent him. But to be able to represent an individual you must be chosen by that individual.
We do not believe there can a fair trial in these circumstances."
Doebbler is also questioning the legality of the whole trial, he notes that in his view the invasion of Iraq was illegal; therefore, a court formed under an illegal occupation is considered invalid under international law.
Quote:
"We start with an illegal situation and now they have violated almost every one of the due process rights of the president. They have not allowed him the most basic of those rights: the right to legal representation."
However, the fact of the matter is that the trial will go ahead on 19th of October; whether Doebbler likes it or not.
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