Friday, August 25, 2006
Trial Adjourned
Saddam Hussein's trial for genocide against the Kurds has been adjourned for three weeks until September 11.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Worse Than Hitler
Saddam Hussein's second trial continues. During Tuesday's session, Ali Mostafa Hama, a survivor of the Anfal campaign, told the court that he saw 8 to 12 planes drop bombs on his village during the incident.
He went on to say that he saw a green gas leak from the bombs, which caused people to vomit and be blinded as they inhaled the gas. He watched a baby die.
Today Najib Khudair Ahmad, a Kurdish woman, testified before the judges. Her face had been scarred by a chemical weapon attack on her village of Sheikwasan, which also made her blind.
She described Saddam as being "worse than Hitler".
"Saddam Hussein used to shout about 'the Iraqi people'
If we were his people, why did he bomb us with all sorts of weapons?"
The prosecutor said that over one thousand testimonies from victims had been recorded, and "65 to 75 witnesses will testify".
It is expected that the proceedings of the Anfal trial will last around four months.
He went on to say that he saw a green gas leak from the bombs, which caused people to vomit and be blinded as they inhaled the gas. He watched a baby die.
Today Najib Khudair Ahmad, a Kurdish woman, testified before the judges. Her face had been scarred by a chemical weapon attack on her village of Sheikwasan, which also made her blind.
She described Saddam as being "worse than Hitler".
"Saddam Hussein used to shout about 'the Iraqi people'
If we were his people, why did he bomb us with all sorts of weapons?"
The prosecutor said that over one thousand testimonies from victims had been recorded, and "65 to 75 witnesses will testify".
It is expected that the proceedings of the Anfal trial will last around four months.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Saddam Refuses To Enter A Plea
Saddam Hussein's second trial began yesterday. He is accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the alleged anti-Kurdish Anfal campaign in late 1980's.
However, he refused to enter a plea.
He was in the dock with six co-defendants, including; his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, popularly known as "Chemical Ali," for allegedly ordering poison gas attacks against Kurds, especially Halabja attack, former Defence Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmad, former intelligence chief Saber Abdul Aziz al-Douri, former Republican Guard Commander Hussein al-Tirkiti, former Nineveh Provincial Governor Taher Tafwiq al-Ani and former top military commander Farhan Mutlaq al-Jubouri.
The prosecution accused Saddam of ordering the Anfal campaign, and charged all the defendants with war crimes and crimes against humanity for their involvement in the Anfal campaign aimed at clearing the Kurdish along the border with Iran.
Saddam claimed that the special tribunal was illegal and refused to state his identity, only identifying himself as "the president of the republic and commander-in-chief of the armed forces."
He also refused to enter a plea when asked by chief judge Abdullah al-Amiri.
Al-Majid also refused to plead.
Al-Amiri, a Shiite, then entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of them.
The verdict of Saddam's first trial will be given of October 16th. Saddam will face death penalty by hanging if found guilty.
It is unclear whether the sentence would be carried out before the Anfal trial is concluded.
It would have been far better to conduct a Nuremberg style trial, where all crimes would have been placed before the court in one trial.
However, he refused to enter a plea.
He was in the dock with six co-defendants, including; his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, popularly known as "Chemical Ali," for allegedly ordering poison gas attacks against Kurds, especially Halabja attack, former Defence Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmad, former intelligence chief Saber Abdul Aziz al-Douri, former Republican Guard Commander Hussein al-Tirkiti, former Nineveh Provincial Governor Taher Tafwiq al-Ani and former top military commander Farhan Mutlaq al-Jubouri.
The prosecution accused Saddam of ordering the Anfal campaign, and charged all the defendants with war crimes and crimes against humanity for their involvement in the Anfal campaign aimed at clearing the Kurdish along the border with Iran.
Saddam claimed that the special tribunal was illegal and refused to state his identity, only identifying himself as "the president of the republic and commander-in-chief of the armed forces."
He also refused to enter a plea when asked by chief judge Abdullah al-Amiri.
Al-Majid also refused to plead.
Al-Amiri, a Shiite, then entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of them.
The verdict of Saddam's first trial will be given of October 16th. Saddam will face death penalty by hanging if found guilty.
It is unclear whether the sentence would be carried out before the Anfal trial is concluded.
It would have been far better to conduct a Nuremberg style trial, where all crimes would have been placed before the court in one trial.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Second Trial Begins Today
Saddam Hussein starts his second trial today, this time in connection with an anti-Kurdish offensive in 1987 and 1988.
About 100,000 people are thought to have died in Operation Anfal ("spoils").
Seven defendants face charges of war crimes and/or genocide.
Saddam and seven different defendants have already been tried for the killing of 148 Shias in Dujail in 1982. A verdict on that is due on 16 October.
About 100,000 people are thought to have died in Operation Anfal ("spoils").
Seven defendants face charges of war crimes and/or genocide.
Saddam and seven different defendants have already been tried for the killing of 148 Shias in Dujail in 1982. A verdict on that is due on 16 October.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)