A mother has accused Saddam Hussein's cousin, Chemical Ali, of throwing her sons out of a helicopter to their deaths during the crushing of a Shia rebellion in Iraq.
The woman was giving testimony in the trial of 15 of Saddam's aides accused of crimes against humanity, during the repression of the 1991 rebellion.
She was speaking from behind a curtain, in order to protect her identity, and accused Ali Hassan al-Majid (aka Chemical Ali) of killing her two sons.
Quote:
"The army detained my two sons, my brother and my niece on March 3, 1991.
Nine days later, my brother and niece were released and they told me that Ali Hasan al-Majid had executed my two sons by throwing them out of a helicopter into the Gulf."
The Shias who took part in the uprising expected the US to back them in the rebellion. However, former US president George Bush instead ordered a halt at the Iraqi border, leaving the rebels to be dealt with by Saddam's Revolutionary Guards.
Around 90 victims and witnesses are expected to testify against the defendants in the current trial.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Accusations of Torture
Kamil Abu al-Hail, an Iraqi ex-MP, accused the 15 aides of Saddam Hussein of crimes against humanity has said he was falsely imprisoned for months.
Kamil Abu al-Hail said he had been held at a prison in Baghdad, where hundreds were beaten and tortured daily.
The defendants are on trial for allegedly helping to suppress a Shia uprising after the 1991 Gulf War.
Kamil Abu al-Hail said that he had been arrested after arriving in Baghdad to attend a parliamentary session in the aftermath of the uprising, and taken to al-Radwaniya prison.
Quote:
"I heard screams of pain as prisoners were beaten and tortured.
At the end of the day, I could see people being carried out on blankets soaked with blood. They could not walk because of the harsh torture."
Mr Abu al-Hail was released several months later, after receiving a presidential pardon.
Quote:
"I was dismissed from the parliament. My cotton factory and my house were destroyed by the shelling from the army."
The Shaaban Intifada (Uprising) started in March 1991 as defeated Iraqi troops fled back to southern Iraq after US-led forces took control of Kuwait.
Many Shia blame the US for the uprising's failure, as it came to a ceasefire agreement with the Iraqi government and did not intervene.
The trial continues.
Kamil Abu al-Hail said he had been held at a prison in Baghdad, where hundreds were beaten and tortured daily.
The defendants are on trial for allegedly helping to suppress a Shia uprising after the 1991 Gulf War.
Kamil Abu al-Hail said that he had been arrested after arriving in Baghdad to attend a parliamentary session in the aftermath of the uprising, and taken to al-Radwaniya prison.
Quote:
"I heard screams of pain as prisoners were beaten and tortured.
At the end of the day, I could see people being carried out on blankets soaked with blood. They could not walk because of the harsh torture."
Mr Abu al-Hail was released several months later, after receiving a presidential pardon.
Quote:
"I was dismissed from the parliament. My cotton factory and my house were destroyed by the shelling from the army."
The Shaaban Intifada (Uprising) started in March 1991 as defeated Iraqi troops fled back to southern Iraq after US-led forces took control of Kuwait.
Many Shia blame the US for the uprising's failure, as it came to a ceasefire agreement with the Iraqi government and did not intervene.
The trial continues.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Chemical Ali On Trial
Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali", is on trial again in Baghdad together with 14 other aides of Saddam Hussein. They are charged with the suppression of a Shia uprising after the 1991 Gulf War.
This is the third trial held by the Iraq High Tribunal.
Majid and two other defendants have already been sentenced to death, in an earlier trial, for crimes against the Kurdish population.
The uprising happened when the then President of the US, George Bush senior, had called on the Iraqi people and the military to oust Saddam.
However, Bush chose not to cross the border into Iraq and Saddam was able to launch a counter-attack with tanks and helicopters.
Bush senior argued that while he hoped a popular revolt would topple Saddam, he did not want to see the break-up of the Iraqi state.
It is therefore somewhat ironic that the actions of his son, by invading Iraq, have most likely brought about the break up of Iraq.
This is the third trial held by the Iraq High Tribunal.
Majid and two other defendants have already been sentenced to death, in an earlier trial, for crimes against the Kurdish population.
The uprising happened when the then President of the US, George Bush senior, had called on the Iraqi people and the military to oust Saddam.
However, Bush chose not to cross the border into Iraq and Saddam was able to launch a counter-attack with tanks and helicopters.
Bush senior argued that while he hoped a popular revolt would topple Saddam, he did not want to see the break-up of the Iraqi state.
It is therefore somewhat ironic that the actions of his son, by invading Iraq, have most likely brought about the break up of Iraq.
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