Saddam prevented from having pen and paper at trial
Iraq, Politics, 12/6/2005

The trial of the former toppled Iraqi President and seven of his Aides will resume today over the killing of 148 persons from the town of al-Dajil in 1982. This was following a contentious session for witnesses in which tension and disorder overwhelmed the court.

A judge in the special court said that the court will resume the trial today instead of Wednesday at the request of the attorney and defendants, altogether. Judge Raed al-Jouhi explained to journalists that the request was submitted to continue listening to elderly witnesses and for security reasons.

The chairman of the special court judge Zarkar Muhammad Amin adjourned the hearing session after the court was overwhelmed with tense atmospheres during which Saddam Hussein and his brother Barazan al-Takriti al-Hassan and the defense lawyers strongly criticized the testimony of witnesses. Saddam doubted the testimonies of the first complainer, Ahmad Hassan Muhammad al-Dajili, who cried, and the second complainer, Jawad Abdul Aziz who appeared in public and talked about details on torture operations and cruel treatment against the people of al-Dajil.

Saddam said he does not fear to be executed, adding that the "most important is to have the Arab nation survive, rising its head high against repression."

Saddam chanted slogans during the trial saying "long live Iraq, long live the Arab nation." He also criticized the "bias of the court due to the fact that the complainers and the witnesses were given longer time" to testify. He also expressed his anger over not being permitted to have his papers on which he writes his observations into the court, adding he was obliged to write his notes on his hands.

For his part, the former intelligence chief Barazan al-Hassan denied the occurrence of torture operations, and described al-Dajil citizen's testimony as "organized lying" that "fits for a movie."

Previous Stories:
  American proposal to dialogue with Iraqi gunmen   (11/30/2005)
  Varied reactions on Saddam's trial   (11/29/2005)
  Events of the session of Saddam's trial   (11/29/2005)

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