Iran has finalised a formal indictment against Saddam Hussein.
The indictment has been prepared by the Public Persecutor's Office, and will be sent to Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi for the final endorsement after being signed by Prosecutor General Qorbanali Dorri-Najafabad.
Ayatollah Shahroudi criticised the Iraqi court, prosecuting Saddam; for failing to address his alleged crimes and violations of human rights in the early years of the 1980-88 war against Iran, and his continued atrocities over the next eight years.
He noted that the Iraqi indictment was "very poor, scanty and lacked Saddam's true crimes".
He called on the court to provide a "real indictment", by including all crimes committed by Saddam.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Rules Of The Game Changed
Iraqi legislators have changed the rules of the game, in respect of the forthcoming trial of Saddam Hussein.
They have now ensured that Saddam cannot represent himself.
The original rules for the trial, which were adopted in December 2003 when the US was running Iraq, allowed for Saddam "to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing."
The Iraqi National Assembly now only give Saddam the right "to procure legal counsel of his choosing."
The rule change is designed to try to rid Iraq and Washington of the spectre of Banquo's ghost, whereby Saddam could have used his right of self-representation to make political propaganda from the event.
Captured, or not, it seems that many still fear Saddam.
They have now ensured that Saddam cannot represent himself.
The original rules for the trial, which were adopted in December 2003 when the US was running Iraq, allowed for Saddam "to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing."
The Iraqi National Assembly now only give Saddam the right "to procure legal counsel of his choosing."
The rule change is designed to try to rid Iraq and Washington of the spectre of Banquo's ghost, whereby Saddam could have used his right of self-representation to make political propaganda from the event.
Captured, or not, it seems that many still fear Saddam.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Saddam's Team Not Told of Date of Trial
Khalil Dulaimi, head of Saddam Hussein's legal team, has said that the team have not been informed by Iraqi authorities of the date set for Saddam's trial.
He also claims that they are unaware of the charges against Saddam.
Quote:
"We have not been duly informed about any certain date for a trial
The defence has not been enabled to review any files of the charges or even any paper of investigation, despite the fact that we have made many and repeated requests to this effect."
Additionally, Saddam has "signed any bill of indictment".
Dulaimi then went on to say that Saddam's defence team "have not and will not recognise any date for the trial if it comes within weeks or months".
Dulaimi said that Saddam "is unsatisfied by the current level of legal representation because such a case needs international experts in international, humanitarian and criminal laws."
"President Saddam Hussein has repeatedly asked most of the judges to be represented by international, Arab and Iraqi lawyers ... but the tribunal still prevents and denies real legal representation".
Did Saddam grant his prisoners the same rights that he now demands?
He also claims that they are unaware of the charges against Saddam.
Quote:
"We have not been duly informed about any certain date for a trial
The defence has not been enabled to review any files of the charges or even any paper of investigation, despite the fact that we have made many and repeated requests to this effect."
Additionally, Saddam has "signed any bill of indictment".
Dulaimi then went on to say that Saddam's defence team "have not and will not recognise any date for the trial if it comes within weeks or months".
Dulaimi said that Saddam "is unsatisfied by the current level of legal representation because such a case needs international experts in international, humanitarian and criminal laws."
"President Saddam Hussein has repeatedly asked most of the judges to be represented by international, Arab and Iraqi lawyers ... but the tribunal still prevents and denies real legal representation".
Did Saddam grant his prisoners the same rights that he now demands?
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
A Family Affair
Ayman Sabawi, a nephew of Saddam Hussein, was sentenced yesterday to life in prison for funding Iraq's insurgency and for bomb-making.
Sabawi was captured in May by security forces, during a raid on Tikrit. His father, Al-Hassan, served as a presidential adviser was captured there two months earlier.
The odd thing about this sentence is that the Iraqi authorities had not announced that Sabawi's trial was in fact under way.
Sabawi will face a second trial beginning November 1st for other, unspecified crimes to which he allegedly confessed during pretrial interrogation.
Sabawi was captured in May by security forces, during a raid on Tikrit. His father, Al-Hassan, served as a presidential adviser was captured there two months earlier.
The odd thing about this sentence is that the Iraqi authorities had not announced that Sabawi's trial was in fact under way.
Sabawi will face a second trial beginning November 1st for other, unspecified crimes to which he allegedly confessed during pretrial interrogation.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Saddam Hussein Used Mail To Fight
Saddam Hussein used a secret mail network to ferment a rebellion against the US forces, during the time between his downfall in April 2003 and his capture in December 2003.
Saddam sent letters with instructions for his subordinates.
In one letter he ordered his associates to change the target from coalition to Iraqi collaborators.
Saddam sent letters with instructions for his subordinates.
In one letter he ordered his associates to change the target from coalition to Iraqi collaborators.
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