Saddam verdict 'no surprise given pressure on the court'

5 November 2006

Sonya Sceats, International Law Programme at Chatham House says: 'Today's verdict is no surprise given political pressure on the court to send Saddam to the gallows.'

'Although this trial was beset by irregularities, it was not the complete train wreck that many critics predicted. In between the dramatic exchanges that made headlines across the world, a proper criminal case was made. Witnesses came forth to testify despite enormous security risks, and large amounts of evidence, much of it compelling, was presented to the court.'

'The real problem lies in the failure of the court to maintain its independence. It is quite clear that politicians have meddled significantly in the process - the chief trial judge resigned earlier this year citing unbearable political interference and the Prime Minister was confidently predicting a guilty verdict weeks ago. According to insiders, this is the tip of the iceberg in terms of the political interference that has been going on.'

'But an unfair trial was not inevitable. As pointed out by Chatham House last year [see report 'The Trial of Saddam Hussein' details below] - the statute and rules of the court contain extensive due process guarantees and the judges received training from international specialists on how to uphold them. Unfortunately, these guarantees were not perfectly secured in practice.'

'As the security situation worsened, it appears that political leaders increased pressure on the judges to conclude the trial quickly and to sentence Saddam to death. But a speedy execution will be a sorry outcome if it means that Saddam avoids legal accountability for the gruesome crimes being tried in the Anfal case and in other trials that are waiting to commence.'

For further comment on the trial please contact:

Sonya Sceats - Associate Fellow, International Law Programme, Chatham House
Mobile: 07837 799 662
Email: ssceats@bihr.org.uk

Press Office:
Keith Burnet
07714 200 920

Sam Hardy
07946 642 205

ENDS

Surname
Membership No.
	Remember me