Saddam Hussein judgement expected
November 4th, 2006 by ashish
The trial in the Saddam Hussein case has gone through varius twists and turns. There have been changes in the judges, judges and lawyers have been threatened either directly or through relatives. Unfortunately, some people involved with the case have already been killed. There are any number of apologists for the brutal dictator, who are ready to condemn the trial as a farce with a pre-determined verdict. However, a review of the proceedings reveal that there has been little interference by the American authorities, and it is the nascent Iraqi judicial system that is evolving that has been running the trial.
I would think that it will be difficult to find people who will deny that Saddam ruled through an era of brutality, torture and supression. As long as he was in power, he had unquestioned authority over all Iraqi citizens and treated them as his property, to deal with as he felt like. This trial is for the case where there was an assassination attempt against him in 1982 and the Iraqi Government conducted a reprisal against the town where this happened. Eventually, greater than 140 men and boys (yes, boys too) were tortured and executed, with their families not even knowing of their fate in many cases. This was essentially to also serve as an example so that other people do not try such a thing.
The only other time where I remember reading of such things happening is during the Nazi rule where they punished entire towns for any attempts on any Nazi. But in the modern age, such a thing happening and then we have people willing to tolerate such a thing happening is incredible. It is only just and right that the judicial system of Iraq take upon itself to punish such a tyrant.
In the current scenario, there are fears of a wide backlash if a judgement against Saddam is declared. However, it was not only the Shias who suffered during his rule, except for his chosen few, almost everyone else was equally liable to be victimised during his rule.
