Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Media: The Associated Press
Byline: By QAIS AL-BAHIR
Date: 14 September 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq_The chief judge in Saddam Hussein's genocide trial said
Thursday that he did not believe the former Iraqi leader was a dictator.
Judge Abdullah al-Amiri made his remark in a friendly chat with Saddam
during court proceedings _ a day after the prosecution asked him to step
down, alleging bias toward the defendants.
Saddam was questioning a 57-year-old Kurdish witness, who testified that the
ex-president aggressively told him to "shut up" when he pleaded for the
release of nine missing relatives nearly two decades ago.
"I wonder why this man (the witness) wanted to meet with me, if I am a
dictator?" Saddam asked.
The judge interrupted: "You were not a dictator. People around you made you
(look like) a dictator."
"Thank you," Saddam responded, bowing his head in respect.
A Shiite Muslim with 25 years experience, al-Amiri was a member of Saddam's
Baath party and served as a judge in a criminal court under the former
leader's regime. He heads the five-judge panel overseeing Saddam's trial on
charges of committing atrocities against Kurds in northern Iraq nearly two
decades ago.
On Wednesday, Chief Prosecutor Munqith al-Faroon demanded al-Amiri to step
down, accusing him of bias toward the deposed leader and his co-defendants.
"You allowed this court to become a political podium for the defendants,"
al-Faroon told al-Amiri.
The prosecutor said the judge was giving Saddam the time to make "political"
statements that were irrelevant to the proceedings.
"For instance yesterday, instead of taking legal action (against Saddam),
you asked his permission to talk," al-Faroon said. "The action of the court
leans toward the defendants."
Byline: By QAIS AL-BAHIR
Date: 14 September 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq_The chief judge in Saddam Hussein's genocide trial said
Thursday that he did not believe the former Iraqi leader was a dictator.
Judge Abdullah al-Amiri made his remark in a friendly chat with Saddam
during court proceedings _ a day after the prosecution asked him to step
down, alleging bias toward the defendants.
Saddam was questioning a 57-year-old Kurdish witness, who testified that the
ex-president aggressively told him to "shut up" when he pleaded for the
release of nine missing relatives nearly two decades ago.
"I wonder why this man (the witness) wanted to meet with me, if I am a
dictator?" Saddam asked.
The judge interrupted: "You were not a dictator. People around you made you
(look like) a dictator."
"Thank you," Saddam responded, bowing his head in respect.
A Shiite Muslim with 25 years experience, al-Amiri was a member of Saddam's
Baath party and served as a judge in a criminal court under the former
leader's regime. He heads the five-judge panel overseeing Saddam's trial on
charges of committing atrocities against Kurds in northern Iraq nearly two
decades ago.
On Wednesday, Chief Prosecutor Munqith al-Faroon demanded al-Amiri to step
down, accusing him of bias toward the deposed leader and his co-defendants.
"You allowed this court to become a political podium for the defendants,"
al-Faroon told al-Amiri.
The prosecutor said the judge was giving Saddam the time to make "political"
statements that were irrelevant to the proceedings.
"For instance yesterday, instead of taking legal action (against Saddam),
you asked his permission to talk," al-Faroon said. "The action of the court
leans toward the defendants."