Lynchng Saddam – Part 5: United Nations and Saddam’s Lawyers’ call

Lynchng Saddam – Part 5: United Nations and Saddam’s Lawyers’ call
By Gabriele Zamparini

The United Nations reported:

A United Nations expert on human rights and legal systems today called on the Iraqi Government to launch an independent investigation into the killing of a lawyer working for the defence team of former President Saddam Hussein. (…) Leandro Despouy, the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers said (…) “This is the third killing of a member of Saddam Hussein's defence team since the trial started in October last year,” (…) In that light, the statement said that the Special Rapporteur reiterated his criticisms of the Iraqi High Tribunal, namely, that its jurisdiction is limited to certain groups of individuals, that it was set up in the context of an armed occupation, that it violates the right to be tried by an impartial tribunal and under those conditions is empowered to impose the death penalty. “ The Special Rapporteur wishes to reiterate his support for the establishment of an international tribunal to ensure that the entire spectrum of barbaric crimes committed in Iraq are prosecuted in a comprehensive, independent and impartial manner, in full respect of the right to truth of all victims and of the international community at large,” the statement said.

UN rights expert calls for probe into killing of Saddam Hussein’s defence lawyer

The Lawyers for the Defendants had already demanded on 21 December 2005 in the PRELIMINARY SUBMISSION CHALLENGING THE LEGALITY OF THE SPECIAL COURT:

CONCLUSION

1. Special Court created by special legislation that has been promulgated by a foreign occupying power in violations of its obligations under international and national law can not be sustained as legal and should accept it on illegality in the name of promoting the rule of law in Iraq.

2. Defendants therefore seek that:

3. all further proceedings of the special Court be stayed until such time as a legitimate and legal Court can be established;

4. the establishment of a schedule for oral argument on this preliminary issue; and,

5. the establishment of a schedule for written pleadings to be submitted by both the defense and the prosecution on the issue of the legitimacy of the special Court and its compatibility with both national and international law.

The motion challenging the legitimacy of the court online

I am sure WE ALL in the anti-war and anti-occupation movement WILL support the United Nations’ call!


Read also:

- - Lynching Saddam

- Lynching Saddam – Part 2: Juan Cole’s informed comment

- Lynching Saddam – Part 3: Stop that "trial" now!

- Lynching Saddam – Part 4: the NYT enjoys that bloody show!

- Lynching Saddam – Part 6: The More You Watch the Less You Know