Judge Takes Control of Saddam Trial

The new chief judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman isn’t taking any crap from Saddam Hussein or other defendants in the Baghdad courtroom where former leader Hussein is being tried for crimes against humanity. Abdel-Rahman replaced former chief judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin, who resigned amid complaints he allowed Saddam too much control and too many outbursts in the courtroom.

On Sunday, Judge Abdel-Rahman began the proceedings with a show of authority, shouting at one defense lawyer for interrupting him and stressing in an opening statement that "political speeches" were not allowed and "if any defendant crosses the lines, he will be taken out of the room and his trial will be carried out with his absence."

Co-defendent Barzan Ibrahim stood up, demanded to be allowed to speak and said. The exchange went like this:

Ibrahim: "Circumstances have forced us to deal with each other here, in spite of my belief that this tribunal is illegitimate, the daughter of a whore."

Judge Abdel-Rahman: "Sit down! One more word and I’m throwing you out. Political speeches have no place in this courtroom. You must abide by the rules. Any irrelevant remarks will be struck from the record, and anyone who breaks the rules will be removed from the courtroom and tried as if he were present."

When Ibrahim refused to sit, two burly guards grabbed him by the arms and dragged him out of the court.

Saddam: (stood and shouted) "Down with the traitors! Down with America!"

Saddam’s defense lawyers stood and shouted.

Judge Abdel-Rahman: "Is this a street demonstration, are you lawyers?"

Judge Abdel-Rahman: "Can you do this in your own courts in your country?"

al-Armouti: "My country gives me my rights."

Judge Abdel-Rahman: (ordering guards to take al-Armouti out of the court) "You have incited your clients and we will start criminal proceedings against you."

Some of the defense team followed al-Armouti out in protest. Judge Abdel-Rahman then appointed new defense lawyers, which Saddam rejected.

Saddam: "I have the right to leave if you do not accept my attorneys."

Judge Abdel-Rahman: "You do not leave, I allow you to leave when I want to."

Saddam: "Don’t call yourself an Iraqi. For 35 years, I administered your rights."

Abdel-Rahman: (with a dismissive wave of the hand) "I am the judge and you are the defendant."

Two guards were then ordered to lead the ousted ruler out of the room.

Abdel-Rahman: "I am speaking to you in clear and straight forward Arabic: Don’t interrupt me." (he said to defense attorneys for arguing before he threw them out. The rest of the defense team stormed out in protest.)

Judge Abdel-Rahman: "Any lawyer who walks out will not be allowed back into this courtroom."

DOH!

Interestingly, as Saddam questioned the legitimacy of the court, it’s odd to contemplate the legitimacy of his own former presidency. In 1979, Saddam staged a famous coop (his cousin was president) and had it video taped. It is one of the most emotional bits of video one will ever see: (quote from Christopher Dickey, liberal columnist 2006)

In 1979 he conducted one of the most horrifying bits of political puppetry ever recorded on videotape. After years as the power behind the throne in Baghdad, he had seized the top slot for himself. Then he convened a congress of the Baath Party to reveal what he said was a plot against the regime. A terrified aide to the former president stood for hours in front of the Baathist delegates recounting details of his own supposed crimes. Occasionally, plaintively, he turned to Saddam, who sat behind a table onstage, handsome as Dracula in a bespoke business suit, smoking a Churchill cigar and sipping from a glass of water. "Was that right?" the accused would ask. Saddam would nod, or correct him. The recitation continued.

Every time the confessor named someone in the audience as a fellow conspirator, that man was forced to stand up and leave the hall, to be shot outside. More than a dozen were named, and no one knew who might be next. Even in the front row, where Tariq Aziz was taking notes flanked by other men who had risen to the top with Saddam (and sit in the dock with him now) it was hard to tell whether some of them were wiping away sweat or tears. Then the repentant plotter was led off stage to be killed and Saddam got up to speak. The remaining delegates at that 1979 conference went wild, shouting Saddam’s praises, cheering, thinking they had been spared. But no. Saddam reached into the pocket of his suit and pulled out a list of more names. He called them out one by one, and they were led away, too, to be killed.

Saddam overthrew Iraq back in 1979 to gain power and his tyrannical legacy began. God has a funny way of working things out.

Trackback URL: 
http://amyproctor.squarespace.com/blog/trackback/369233

Comments

[Chief RZ]

Finally! I thought this was going to be a circus or like the O.J. Simpson trial. This should be over with soon and the Iraqis can get on with their lives and new freedom.

[Amy Proctor]

Chief, Me, too. The other judge, while slightly handsomer :) had a philosophy that allowed too much freedom for the defendants. This is partly Arab culture. They are a very expressive people, very vocal and animated. However, Saddam was succeeding in giving mini-press conferences (that oddly lined up with Democratic talking points). It was like free press coverage for him to slam the US and new Iraqi government. This new judge really seems to get the "I'm the judge, you're just on trial so sit down and shut up" aspect of his position.

[Tom]

In some ways, and I know this is a bit undemocratic, but I can't help wishing that Saddam's trial was more like that of Nicolai Ceaucescu (despotic communist tyrant of Romania up til 1989). They tried him in a closed session lasting just several hours, then took him out and shot him, and broadcast it live on Romanian TV, Christmas Day 1989. It was the best Christmas present the Romanians could have ever wished for. Free at last!
I bet that there are many Iraqis out there who will not feel totally freed from the spectre of Hussein's evil regime until they see him shot dead with their own eyes.

[jez]

I heard an interesting opinion not long ago that it is a mistake for Hussein to be tried in Iraq, since all Iraqi citizens either liked him or (more likely I think) really hated him. Might have been a lot less of a fuss to try him in an international court?

[PCD]

jez, the international wusses did nothing to help the Iraqi peoples, nor did they come in great numbers to remove him. Why should stay at home elitists be entrusted to try this monster?

Frankly, I'm surprised a handgrenade wasn't thrown down that spider hole first.

[jez]

i guess that's why we're the good guys.

[Johnny]

PCD, that's an excellent point. The international community largely sat on their collective hands when it came to act on the Security Council Resolutions. Besides, Saddam deserves to be tried by people he gave "rights" to (quoting the deposed dictator) for 35 years.

[Amy Proctor]

I agree, PCD's point is well made.

[Princess Jami]

Amy, I'm just so surprised by Saddam's bluster and theatrics in the courtroom. These were just parts of his horrible character, before, but I guess it's just how he doesn't realize he's no longer in power and he has no authority to force himself on anyone. He doesn't seem to see the correlation between his actions and his consequences. Hussein's just been allowed to progress in his evil for so long that his conscience completely eroded away. Yeesh.

[Princess Jami]

Sorry about the excessive use of "just" in that comment. Good heavens.

[Amy Proctor]

Heehee! Good to have you back, Princess! I have been unbelievably busy here and haven't been visiting very many blogs lately. Blessings and peace to you and Joman. I'll have to stop by later both of your places and see how it's going!