Judge Aref Shahin has become the president of the Iraqi High Tribunal that is trying Saddam Hussein.
Shahin is replacing Jamal Mustapha, who died of cancer this month.
Shahin will also become the head of Iraq’s highest appeals court.
A second trial of Hussein and six co-defendants will begin on August 21.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
No Show
The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants was adjourned yesterday until July 24.
The proceedings have not been helped by the absence of Saddam's lawyers, who have boycotted the past two days of proceedings.
Presiding Judge Raouf Rasheed Abdel-Rahman has named substitute lawyers, and warned that they would make the defendants' final arguments if the original lawyers don't bother to show up.
The proceedings have not been helped by the absence of Saddam's lawyers, who have boycotted the past two days of proceedings.
Presiding Judge Raouf Rasheed Abdel-Rahman has named substitute lawyers, and warned that they would make the defendants' final arguments if the original lawyers don't bother to show up.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Little Saddam
Iraq has released its "most wanted" list, within which is a certain Raghad Hussein (eldest daughter of Saddam Hussein).
Raghad is known to have the same "endearing" temperament as her father, ie she is irascible and not one to cross, and as such is known as "Little Saddam".
When her brothers, Uday and Qusay, were killed by US troops in July 2003, Raghad and her sister Rana left Syria to seek refuge in Jordan. Their mother and a third daughter Hala, whose husband is in prison, went to Qatar.
Raghad has taken charge of the defence of Saddam, hiring and firing lawyers.
A former member of Saddam's defence committee said, in a newspaper interview, that it would not be surprising if she were aiding Iraqi resistance.
Raghad is known to have the same "endearing" temperament as her father, ie she is irascible and not one to cross, and as such is known as "Little Saddam".
When her brothers, Uday and Qusay, were killed by US troops in July 2003, Raghad and her sister Rana left Syria to seek refuge in Jordan. Their mother and a third daughter Hala, whose husband is in prison, went to Qatar.
Raghad has taken charge of the defence of Saddam, hiring and firing lawyers.
A former member of Saddam's defence committee said, in a newspaper interview, that it would not be surprising if she were aiding Iraqi resistance.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Fair Trial
US Attorney General Ramsey Clark, one of Saddam Hussein's defence team, has spoken out about his fears for Saddam getting a fair trial for genocide in August.
He believes that the security situation in Baghdad is untenable, as demonstrated by the murders of three of Saddam's defence team during the current trial.
He believes that the security situation in Baghdad is untenable, as demonstrated by the murders of three of Saddam's defence team during the current trial.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Second Trial
The second trial of Saddam Hussein will begin on August 21. In this one he will face charges relating to the campaign against Iraqi Kurds in the late 1980s.
The Iraqi High Tribunal charged Saddam with genocide in April, after investigative judge Ra'id Juhi announced investigators had completed their work gathering witnesses and evidence and were ready to go to trial.
The campaign included the gassing of 5,000 civilians in the village of Halabja in 1988, this will be prosecuted separately.
The total mortality rate is estimated at between 50,000 to 200,000.
The question is, given the ongoing killings of various members of the defence team and instability in Iraq will there be anyone left to conduct the trial?
The Iraqi High Tribunal charged Saddam with genocide in April, after investigative judge Ra'id Juhi announced investigators had completed their work gathering witnesses and evidence and were ready to go to trial.
The campaign included the gassing of 5,000 civilians in the village of Halabja in 1988, this will be prosecuted separately.
The total mortality rate is estimated at between 50,000 to 200,000.
The question is, given the ongoing killings of various members of the defence team and instability in Iraq will there be anyone left to conduct the trial?
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Saddam Delusional
It seems that Saddam Hussein has become delusional, that at least is the only conclusion that one can draw from the interview that Khalil al-Dulaimi (the head of Saddam's defence team) gave the other day.
In the interview, Khalil al-Dulaimi said that Saddam is the key to returning stability to Iraq.
Quote:
"He's their last resort. They're going to knock at his door eventually.
Saddam is the only person who can stop the resistance against the US troops."
Seemingly Saddam raised the topic during a meeting, and indicated that he would be willing to help the US "for the sake of saving both peoples - the Iraqis and Americans."
I believe that the Americans will only consider that offer when, how does the phrase go?
"Hell freezes over!"
In the interview, Khalil al-Dulaimi said that Saddam is the key to returning stability to Iraq.
Quote:
"He's their last resort. They're going to knock at his door eventually.
Saddam is the only person who can stop the resistance against the US troops."
Seemingly Saddam raised the topic during a meeting, and indicated that he would be willing to help the US "for the sake of saving both peoples - the Iraqis and Americans."
I believe that the Americans will only consider that offer when, how does the phrase go?
"Hell freezes over!"
Monday, June 26, 2006
Saddam Ends Hunger Strike
Less than 24 hours after starting their hunger strike in protest at the murder of one of their lawyers, Saddam Hussein and his entourage have ended it.
They stopped their strike Thursday evening, just hours after they had announced it.
Another piece of pointless grandstanding.
They stopped their strike Thursday evening, just hours after they had announced it.
Another piece of pointless grandstanding.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Saddam On Hunger Strike
Saddam Hussein has started a hunger strike as a protest over the killing of a senior defence lawyer at his trial.
Khamis al-Obeidi's body was found dumped in Baghdad, hours after he was abducted from his home.
Saddam Hussein and his seven co-accused have vowed not to eat until their defence team received "international protection".
Khamis al-Obeidi's body was found dumped in Baghdad, hours after he was abducted from his home.
Saddam Hussein and his seven co-accused have vowed not to eat until their defence team received "international protection".
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Saddam's Lawyer Murdered
The body of Khamees al-Ubaidi, one of Saddam Hussein's main defence lawyers, has been found by Iraqi police today.
It was riddled with bullets.
Khamees al-Ubaidi is the third member of the defence team to have been killed since the start of the trial.
It was riddled with bullets.
Khamees al-Ubaidi is the third member of the defence team to have been killed since the start of the trial.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Closing Arguments
The closing arguments are now being presented in the trial of Saddam Hussein. The prosecution has today called for the "heaviest possible penalty".
The final defence arguments are scheduled for 10 July, after which the five-judge panel will consider its verdict.
The prosecution lawyers said that the defendants had "carried out a systematic, wide-scale attack" in Dujail.
"They carried out broad imprisonments of men, women and children, who were exposed to physical and mental torture, including the use of electrical shocks."
They are demanding the maximum punishment for the defendants, ie the death penalty.
One of the defendants, Barzan al-Tikriti Saddam Hussein's half-brother, tried to interrupt Chief Judge Rauf Abdel Rahman several times.
The judge told him he would be able to speak after the prosecution had concluded its arguments.
The trial continues.
The final defence arguments are scheduled for 10 July, after which the five-judge panel will consider its verdict.
The prosecution lawyers said that the defendants had "carried out a systematic, wide-scale attack" in Dujail.
"They carried out broad imprisonments of men, women and children, who were exposed to physical and mental torture, including the use of electrical shocks."
They are demanding the maximum punishment for the defendants, ie the death penalty.
One of the defendants, Barzan al-Tikriti Saddam Hussein's half-brother, tried to interrupt Chief Judge Rauf Abdel Rahman several times.
The judge told him he would be able to speak after the prosecution had concluded its arguments.
The trial continues.
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