Saddam Hussein, having walked out of his own trial on Tuesday with a verbal flourish of "go to hell!", has continued to boycott the trial.
Yesterday's hearing started four hours late, as the remaining performers in this "soap" discussed how to continue without the main defendant.
Once underway, the court heard from a male witness, voice disguised, who claimed to have been arrested following the assassination attempt against Saddam in Dujail.
He spoke of beatings in a Baghdad intelligence prison, and said Saddam's half-brother and co-defendant Barzan al-Tikriti was present at one point.
However, he admitted that he had been blindfolded and had been told by other detainees that it was Barzan who spoke.
Another witness described the round-up of people in Dujail:
"They told us they wanted to speak to us for 10 minutes. We were gone for four and a half years."
The trial has now been adjourned until 21 December.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Saddam Refuses To Attend Trial
Saddam Hussein is refusing to enter court to attend trial today.
He is complaining about the conditions in which he is being held, and how the trial is being conducted.
On Tuesday he told the judges to "go to hell", and stated that he would not return to an "unjust" court.
Additionally, a man arrested on suspicion of plotting to kill the top trial investigator has been freed by gunmen.
Negotiations are now under way on how the trial can proceed, with the defence team holding talks with the chief judge.
Under Iraqi law the trial can continue without the defendant present in the court room.
It is speculated that arrangements will be made for Saddam to watch the trial on a closed circuit TV link, with the right to intervene at certain points.
The chaos continues.
He is complaining about the conditions in which he is being held, and how the trial is being conducted.
On Tuesday he told the judges to "go to hell", and stated that he would not return to an "unjust" court.
Additionally, a man arrested on suspicion of plotting to kill the top trial investigator has been freed by gunmen.
Negotiations are now under way on how the trial can proceed, with the defence team holding talks with the chief judge.
Under Iraqi law the trial can continue without the defendant present in the court room.
It is speculated that arrangements will be made for Saddam to watch the trial on a closed circuit TV link, with the right to intervene at certain points.
The chaos continues.
Witness A and B
Witness A, her voice disguised electronically, gave evidence yesterday in the ongoing trial of Saddam Hussein.
She said that at the age of sixteen, she had been stripped naked in what she called an "operation room" and chained to a table.
She alleges that 5 men beat her with steel cables and gave her electric shocks.
After that she claims that she and the other Dujail families were sent to the desert, where they lived for 4 years.
Quote:
"We lost everything. All my youth is gone. Our future is gone."
However, the senior judge said to her:
"The details you are giving now are different from those you gave when your examination took place."
"This is true," she answered.
The defence note that some of the prosecution witnesses have a financial interest in the case, since they are also looking for financial compensation for what happened to them.
Then the leading defence counsel acting for Saddam Hussein questioned her.
She had been held in Abu Ghraib prison, he said, where he agreed that conditions had been terrible until just recently.
But had dogs been used against her? Were photographs taken of her?
No, she said.
This reminded people of the way that prisoners in Abu Ghraib were treated by their American jailers, after the invasion of Iraq.
There seems to be an almost a wistful, and misplaced, yearning in the minds of some for a return to the days of Saddam.
The next witness, an elderly woman - witness B, went into the curtained booth to give her evidence and had her voice disguised as well.
However, the electronics failed again and she was brought into the middle of the court to speak.
She couldn't be seen and identified, and the sound feed was cut off to the press box.
Other witnesses gave evidence about the 1982 visit by Saddam to the town of Dujail, and the assassination attempt on him was carried out.
Saddam's half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti interrupted:
"Those people know nothing."
Saddam also interrupted, the judge did not try to stop him:
"Who arrested you?" Saddam asked.
"Men from Intelligence."
"How do you know?"
"They said so."
"What were their names?"
The witness gave the names.
"Describe them."
The witness proceeded to do it.
"How come you remember all these things".
"This was a great sadness to me. I can't forget a sadness."
She said that at the age of sixteen, she had been stripped naked in what she called an "operation room" and chained to a table.
She alleges that 5 men beat her with steel cables and gave her electric shocks.
After that she claims that she and the other Dujail families were sent to the desert, where they lived for 4 years.
Quote:
"We lost everything. All my youth is gone. Our future is gone."
However, the senior judge said to her:
"The details you are giving now are different from those you gave when your examination took place."
"This is true," she answered.
The defence note that some of the prosecution witnesses have a financial interest in the case, since they are also looking for financial compensation for what happened to them.
Then the leading defence counsel acting for Saddam Hussein questioned her.
She had been held in Abu Ghraib prison, he said, where he agreed that conditions had been terrible until just recently.
But had dogs been used against her? Were photographs taken of her?
No, she said.
This reminded people of the way that prisoners in Abu Ghraib were treated by their American jailers, after the invasion of Iraq.
There seems to be an almost a wistful, and misplaced, yearning in the minds of some for a return to the days of Saddam.
The next witness, an elderly woman - witness B, went into the curtained booth to give her evidence and had her voice disguised as well.
However, the electronics failed again and she was brought into the middle of the court to speak.
She couldn't be seen and identified, and the sound feed was cut off to the press box.
Other witnesses gave evidence about the 1982 visit by Saddam to the town of Dujail, and the assassination attempt on him was carried out.
Saddam's half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti interrupted:
"Those people know nothing."
Saddam also interrupted, the judge did not try to stop him:
"Who arrested you?" Saddam asked.
"Men from Intelligence."
"How do you know?"
"They said so."
"What were their names?"
The witness gave the names.
"Describe them."
The witness proceeded to do it.
"How come you remember all these things".
"This was a great sadness to me. I can't forget a sadness."
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Hidden Witness
The trial of Saddam Hussein continues today, with the first hidden witness testifying.
The witness, a woman (called witness A), addressed the court from behind a screen in order to protect her identity.
However, there were technical problems with the equipment used to disguise her voice; the court then had to recess whilst the issue was addressed.
She said that Saddam's security forces had taken her brother and broke his arms, his legs, and then shot at his feet.
The trial continues.
The witness, a woman (called witness A), addressed the court from behind a screen in order to protect her identity.
However, there were technical problems with the equipment used to disguise her voice; the court then had to recess whilst the issue was addressed.
She said that Saddam's security forces had taken her brother and broke his arms, his legs, and then shot at his feet.
The trial continues.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Trial Resumes
Saddam Hussein's trial resumed again today, after a brief suspension 90 minute suspension this morning, following the walkout by his defence team.
They returned when the court reversed its decision, banning general Clark and others from speaking, and allowed the foreign members of the team to speak.
Judge Rizkar Mohammed Amin agreed to allowing them to speak, because of the court's desire to pursue its work "in transparency, it has agreed to listen to the oral arguments of the two defense attorneys".
Clark was given five minutes to speak, and al-Nuaimi was given 16 minutes. Clark's spoke about security, while al-Nuaimi spoke about the legitimacy of the court.
Amin told them off when they "went off subject", to discuss politics.
Clark said:
"If every form of participation in the judicial process is not protected, the judicial system will fail and be destroyed. The defense can not participate in this case until there is protection in place for the lawyers and their families."
The trial then saw and heard its first living witness, Ahmed Hassan Mohammed al-Dujaili then took the stand.
He said:
"Massive forces came down to Dujail as if there was a war. I saw, by God, a scene I will never forget. I saw a machine that is like a grinder, and there was blood and hair inside."
Saddam Hussein interrupted several times, saying:
"You haven't given me pen or paper? How can I write down my ideas and notes?.."
al-Dujaili continued:
"Torture didn't exclude anyone. I was just 15 years old. I saw a women being tortured -- You took my brother but why did you take my mother and sisters?"
They returned when the court reversed its decision, banning general Clark and others from speaking, and allowed the foreign members of the team to speak.
Judge Rizkar Mohammed Amin agreed to allowing them to speak, because of the court's desire to pursue its work "in transparency, it has agreed to listen to the oral arguments of the two defense attorneys".
Clark was given five minutes to speak, and al-Nuaimi was given 16 minutes. Clark's spoke about security, while al-Nuaimi spoke about the legitimacy of the court.
Amin told them off when they "went off subject", to discuss politics.
Clark said:
"If every form of participation in the judicial process is not protected, the judicial system will fail and be destroyed. The defense can not participate in this case until there is protection in place for the lawyers and their families."
The trial then saw and heard its first living witness, Ahmed Hassan Mohammed al-Dujaili then took the stand.
He said:
"Massive forces came down to Dujail as if there was a war. I saw, by God, a scene I will never forget. I saw a machine that is like a grinder, and there was blood and hair inside."
Saddam Hussein interrupted several times, saying:
"You haven't given me pen or paper? How can I write down my ideas and notes?.."
al-Dujaili continued:
"Torture didn't exclude anyone. I was just 15 years old. I saw a women being tortured -- You took my brother but why did you take my mother and sisters?"
Saddam Hussein's Trial Suspended
The ongoing farce that is the trial of Saddam Hussein continued today, as the defence team walked out of court.
They were protesting about the fact that the presiding judge, Rizkar Mohammed Amin, refused to let former US attorney general Ramsey Clark and former Qatari justice minister Naji Nuaimi speak at the trial.
Amin said:
"Make a written request".
Clark responded:
"I just want two minutes".
The defence team then threatened to leave court, prompting Amin to say:
"As you like. Then we will have to appoint other lawyers."
Saddam at this point refused to have lawyers appointed by the court, and shouted:
"Long live Iraq. Long live the Arab nation. Long live Iraq."
Nuaimi said the court's refusal to hear the lawyers' request was "a violation of the rights of the defence", he noted that the court should examine its own legitimacy before proceeding with the trial.
Amin instructed that the defence should send him a written memo, covering any questions that they may have about the court's legitimacy, he promised to provide a written reply.
The trial is now suspended, to allow the defence to consider their next action.
I wonder if this trial could be handled any less well?
They were protesting about the fact that the presiding judge, Rizkar Mohammed Amin, refused to let former US attorney general Ramsey Clark and former Qatari justice minister Naji Nuaimi speak at the trial.
Amin said:
"Make a written request".
Clark responded:
"I just want two minutes".
The defence team then threatened to leave court, prompting Amin to say:
"As you like. Then we will have to appoint other lawyers."
Saddam at this point refused to have lawyers appointed by the court, and shouted:
"Long live Iraq. Long live the Arab nation. Long live Iraq."
Nuaimi said the court's refusal to hear the lawyers' request was "a violation of the rights of the defence", he noted that the court should examine its own legitimacy before proceeding with the trial.
Amin instructed that the defence should send him a written memo, covering any questions that they may have about the court's legitimacy, he promised to provide a written reply.
The trial is now suspended, to allow the defence to consider their next action.
I wonder if this trial could be handled any less well?
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Saddam To Stand For Election?
Former Qatari justice minister, Najib al-Nuaimi, is quoted as saying that Iraqis have asked Saddam Hussein's defence team to consider fielding Saddam as a candidate for future elections.
Quote:
"Iraqis have asked the defence team to study the legal conditions to present Saddam Hussein as a candidate for elections, first as an MP then as president. If this contradicts the legal system then president Saddam will be nominated simply as a candidate."
Nuaimi is one of the three foreign lawyers, former US attorney general Ramsey Clark and Jordanian lawyer Issam Ghazzawi being the other two, sworn in by the Iraqi court as members of Saddam's defence at Monday's hearing.
Ghazzawi said:
"As we were leaving Iraq on Tuesday ordinary Iraqis at the airport approached us saying they wished that Saddam would return (as president). These Iraqis said 'we have lost security after Saddam, how we wish he would return'."
Whilst the idea of Saddam standing, and even winning a seat, may be attractive to those who want to humiliate Bush and Blair; it is not right that man who stifled democracy, when he was in charge, should then use it as a "get out of jail card".
More to the point, if the current trial is speeded up, Saddam may find himself facing the death penalty long before he has the opportunity to stand for election.
Quote:
"Iraqis have asked the defence team to study the legal conditions to present Saddam Hussein as a candidate for elections, first as an MP then as president. If this contradicts the legal system then president Saddam will be nominated simply as a candidate."
Nuaimi is one of the three foreign lawyers, former US attorney general Ramsey Clark and Jordanian lawyer Issam Ghazzawi being the other two, sworn in by the Iraqi court as members of Saddam's defence at Monday's hearing.
Ghazzawi said:
"As we were leaving Iraq on Tuesday ordinary Iraqis at the airport approached us saying they wished that Saddam would return (as president). These Iraqis said 'we have lost security after Saddam, how we wish he would return'."
Whilst the idea of Saddam standing, and even winning a seat, may be attractive to those who want to humiliate Bush and Blair; it is not right that man who stifled democracy, when he was in charge, should then use it as a "get out of jail card".
More to the point, if the current trial is speeded up, Saddam may find himself facing the death penalty long before he has the opportunity to stand for election.
Friday, December 02, 2005
The Odd Couple
In a rather bizarre twist in the ongoing saga of the Saddam Hussein's trial, former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark has taken it upon himself to join the defence team.
Clark met with Saddam after the shambolic events in the court house on Monday. Clark said that Saddam was in "very good spirits."
I would venture to suggest that this is because Saddam, so far, has managed to "call the shots" in the two days that he has appeared in court.
Clark said that they were initially left alone in the room, but then they were joined by two soldiers.
Clark is quoted as saying:
"Saddam has been in total isolation. He hasn't seen a member of his family, talked to a member of his family, met with a lawyer or met with friends he has known before."
Adding:
"His mind was as clear and as sharp as ever."
Do I detect a degree of admiration emanating from Clark?
Clark met with Saddam after the shambolic events in the court house on Monday. Clark said that Saddam was in "very good spirits."
I would venture to suggest that this is because Saddam, so far, has managed to "call the shots" in the two days that he has appeared in court.
Clark said that they were initially left alone in the room, but then they were joined by two soldiers.
Clark is quoted as saying:
"Saddam has been in total isolation. He hasn't seen a member of his family, talked to a member of his family, met with a lawyer or met with friends he has known before."
Adding:
"His mind was as clear and as sharp as ever."
Do I detect a degree of admiration emanating from Clark?
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Saddam's Relative Kidnapped
It is reported that unknown gunmen have abducted Dhafir Hardan al-Hazzaa, a former army officer and relative of Saddam Hussein, in Tikrit.
The abduction took place on Monday night, and was perpetrated by a group of armed men.
It seems that Iraq is destined to remain in chaos for years.
The abduction took place on Monday night, and was perpetrated by a group of armed men.
It seems that Iraq is destined to remain in chaos for years.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Iraq's Credibility At Stake
After the shambolic scenes at Saddam Hussein's trial on Monday, where he stole the show and berated the judge and the Iraqi people, the Iraqi government has realised that its credibility is now at stake.
Iraqi Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari, said that the trial and judgement should be "fair and just."
Zebari was speaking after meeting the French Foreign Minister, Philippe Douste-Blazy, in Paris.
Zebari said that Iraq was doing its utmost to ensure Saddam's trial would take place with "the greatest transparency and justice."
Quote:
"This trial is extremely important for the political and security situation in Iraq. I think we took a long time organizing it. We insist on doing it with the greatest transparency and justice."
Douste-Blazy said that the trial was "the opportunity for the Iraqi people to shine the light on all the crimes and injustices that are attributed to him."
The trouble is, if the Monday's events are anything to go by, it is clear that Nuremberg it isn't!
Iraqi Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari, said that the trial and judgement should be "fair and just."
Zebari was speaking after meeting the French Foreign Minister, Philippe Douste-Blazy, in Paris.
Zebari said that Iraq was doing its utmost to ensure Saddam's trial would take place with "the greatest transparency and justice."
Quote:
"This trial is extremely important for the political and security situation in Iraq. I think we took a long time organizing it. We insist on doing it with the greatest transparency and justice."
Douste-Blazy said that the trial was "the opportunity for the Iraqi people to shine the light on all the crimes and injustices that are attributed to him."
The trouble is, if the Monday's events are anything to go by, it is clear that Nuremberg it isn't!
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