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.
Showing posts with label uprising. Show all posts
Showing posts with label uprising. Show all posts
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.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Saddam Assaulted
It is reported that during interrogation, Saddam Hussein, was assaulted by his interegators.
Saddam was being questioned about the suppression of the 1991 Shiite uprising. He allegedly hurled an obscenity at two of Shiite Islam's holiest figures.
He was asked about the shrines of the imams Hussein and Abbas, that were targeted by government forces seizing back control of Karbala. It is alleged that at first he pretended at first not to know to whom the investigative judges were referring.
He then swore, at which point two of court's clerks taking notes allegedly lunged at him and started pummeling him with blows.
The beating was stopped, only after the chief judge intervened.
Saddam was allegedly left with a minor bruise to the forehead, the US guards posted outside the makeshift courthouse near Baghdad international airport were said to be amused and opted not to intervene.
It seems that Iraq has still some way to go before it rids itself of the brutality, and habit of brutality, of the past.
Saddam was being questioned about the suppression of the 1991 Shiite uprising. He allegedly hurled an obscenity at two of Shiite Islam's holiest figures.
He was asked about the shrines of the imams Hussein and Abbas, that were targeted by government forces seizing back control of Karbala. It is alleged that at first he pretended at first not to know to whom the investigative judges were referring.
He then swore, at which point two of court's clerks taking notes allegedly lunged at him and started pummeling him with blows.
The beating was stopped, only after the chief judge intervened.
Saddam was allegedly left with a minor bruise to the forehead, the US guards posted outside the makeshift courthouse near Baghdad international airport were said to be amused and opted not to intervene.
It seems that Iraq has still some way to go before it rids itself of the brutality, and habit of brutality, of the past.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Iraq Forces Arrest Ex Army Officer
Iraqi forces have arrested Mizher Taha Ahmed al-Ghannam al-Juburi, an ex-army officer accused of killing and deporting Marsh Arabs during the rule of Saddam Hussein.
The arrest warrant was issued on the basis of testimony that the former intelligence officer, in the army's fourth brigade, killed and deported Marsh Arabs in the south between 1992 and 1996.
Saddam's regime acted against the inhabitants of the marshlands, when opposition militants took refuge among the area's reeds; after the abortive Shiite uprising in the south, following the 1991 Gulf war.
The regime drained most of the marshes and torched the reeds, effectively killing off the way of life of the occupants of the marshes.
The arrest warrant was issued on the basis of testimony that the former intelligence officer, in the army's fourth brigade, killed and deported Marsh Arabs in the south between 1992 and 1996.
Saddam's regime acted against the inhabitants of the marshlands, when opposition militants took refuge among the area's reeds; after the abortive Shiite uprising in the south, following the 1991 Gulf war.
The regime drained most of the marshes and torched the reeds, effectively killing off the way of life of the occupants of the marshes.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
The Charges
The Iraqi government announced this month that Saddam Hussein would face 12 charges of crimes against humanity.
This is despite the fact that there are more than 500 confirmed cases against him.
Leith Kubba, an Iraqi government spokesman, is quoted as saying:
"The 12 chosen charges are more than enough to give him the maximum sentence applicable,".
Six of the twelve charges relate to the most barbaric incidents during the Hussein regime. These are:
This is despite the fact that there are more than 500 confirmed cases against him.
Leith Kubba, an Iraqi government spokesman, is quoted as saying:
"The 12 chosen charges are more than enough to give him the maximum sentence applicable,".
Six of the twelve charges relate to the most barbaric incidents during the Hussein regime. These are:
- The execution of more than 145 Iraqis in 1982 in Dujail
- The murder, by gassing, of nearly 5,000 people in the Kurdish town of Halabja in 1988
- The execution of political and religious leaders during the 35 years in power
- The killing and deportation of more than 10,000 members of the Kurdish Barzani tribe
- The 1991 suppression of a Shi'ite uprising in southern Iraq
- The illegal occupation of Kuwait in 1991
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