ICTJ in the News

November 5, 2006

Instant View: Saddam Hussein sentenced to death

Reuters

Following are reactions to the death sentence a U.S.-backed Iraqi court imposed on Saddam Hussein on Sunday for crimes against humanity.:

 

IRAQI PRIME MINISTER NURI AL-MALIKI

"He is facing the punishment he deserves."

WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN TONY SNOW

"It's a good day for the Iraqi people.

"The judges will in fact publish everything they used to come to their verdict ... I think the entire world is going to get the opportunity to see it was scrupulous and fair."

MALCOLM SMART, DIRECTOR OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA PROGRAMME FOR AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

"Obviously we deplore the verdict of the death penalty against Saddam and one of his co-accused. We don't consider it was a fair process. The court was not impartial. There were not adequate steps taken to protect the security of defence lawyers and witnesses ....

"Every individual has a right to a fair trial, even people accused of crimes of the magnitude that Saddam Hussein faced, and this has not been a fair trial."

SADDAM HUSSEIN

"Long live the people, long live the nation. Down with the agents, down with the invaders. Allah is great...

"I urge the people of great Iraq to forgive all of those who had strayed should they renounce their (treacherous) position. I also urge the people of great Iraq not to be angry with the people of the countries that committed aggression against Iraq and to be open for forgiveness."

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ, ZALMAY KHALILZAD

"Today is an important milestone for Iraq as the country takes another major step forward in the building of a free society based on the rule of law.

"Although the Iraqis may face difficult days in the coming weeks, closing the book on Saddam and his regime is an opportunity to unite and build a better future."

HANNY MEGALLY OF THE NEW YORK-BASED INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE, WHICH HAS CLOSELY MONITORED THE TRIAL

"It's not a sham trial by any means. But there were lots of errors and mistakes along the way, as they were learning.

"And in all fairness, unless they put those right, it would be impossible to meet the standards of fairness."

BUSHRA AL-KHALIL, LAWYER IN SADDAM'S DEFENCE TEAM IN AMMAN

"This is a mockery of justice and a judgement that comes from a sham and illegal court created by the U.S. occupation that cannot ever provide a fair trial."

IRAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, MOHAMMAD ALI HOSSEINI

"The Islamic Republic of Iran, remembering the inhuman crimes of Saddam and his allies against the Iraqi, Iranian and Kuwaiti nations ... welcomes the verdict.

"Although Saddam and his allies carried out those crimes, it should not be forgotten that Saddam's Western supporters also paved the way for him to carry out those oppressive acts and crimes."

KUWAIT'S PARLIAMENT SPEAKER JASSIM AL-KHARAFI

"We thank God for extending our lives in order to see what we see now against a person who has done a lot of harm to Kuwait We hope that the carrying out of this sentence is not delayed."

BRITISH HOME SECRETARY AND EX-DEFENCE SECRETARY JOHN REID

"It is in a sense the ultimate expression of the sovereignty of Iraq. They are masters of their own destiny. And they have taken a decision today as controllers of that destiny which I think all of us ought to respect."

U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS LOUISE ARBOUR

"A credible appeals process is an essential part of fair-trial guarantees ... and whatever the outcome of an appeal, I hope the government will observe a moratorium on executions."

ITALY'S PRIME MINISTER ROMANO PRODI

"The condemnation reflects the judgment of the entire international community on Saddam Hussein, the dictator.

"Certainly there will be an appeal; but however ferocious a crime may be, our traditions and our ethics distance us from the concept of a death penalty."

SYRIAN INFORMATION MINISTER MUHSIN BILAL

"Any trial conducted under occupation is illegitimate."

RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT

"This sentence has already prompted a negative reaction in Iraq itself and worries in several Arab countries that the existing instability in Iraq will get worse."