Amnesty International deplores death sentences in Saddam Hussein trial
– Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.
The Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal (SICT) imposed the death sentence on Saddam Hussein and two of his seven co-accused on Sunday, 6 November, after a trial that was deeply flawed and unfair. The former Iraqi dictator was sentenced in connection with the killing of 148 people from al-Dujail village after an attempt to assassinate him there in 1982.
The trial began in October 2005, almost two years after Saddam Hussein was captured by US forces, and ended last July. The verdict was originally due to be announced on 16 October, but was delayed because the court said it needed more time to review testimony.
"This trial should have been a major contribution towards establishing justice and the rule of law in Iraq and in ensuring truth and accountability for the massive human rights violations perpetrated by Saddam Hussein
