Thursday, December 28, 2006
Possible details of Saddam's execution
A satellite news channel recently posted a report on its website quoting Iraqi experts and officials that unveils details of the possible execution of ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussain; his last night till the execution. According to the officials, the execution would not be carried out in the Victory Arch public court, as claimed by a British newspaper recently. It would not be public and the media would only be allowed to take pictures after the rope has been removed from around his neck, said Al Arabiya website.
While some experts voiced doubts that Saddam would be executed, others are sceptical that Saddam might be hanged, and some experts and observers pointed out that he might be killed in prison gradually to tackle the anger of the his supporters. Others say he might face the same destiny as Slobodan Milosovic and would be left to die slowly in his cell. The general prosecutor of the tribunal holding the trial, Jaafar Al Musawi, and the Iraqi legal expert, Mohammad Al Shaikhli, both agreed in interviews by www.alarabiya.net over the details of the possible execution of Saddam Hussain.
Both stressed that the execution would not be carried out in the public court under the Victory Arch, because the law allows execution to be carried out anywhere in the prison defined by the Ministry of Law. The execution would not be public for everyone to see, but would be attended by a number of people as stipulated by the law. The execution would be covered by media outlets, only after the rope has been removed from around Saddam's neck, for everyone to see that the execution has been carried out.
Both Al Musawi and Al Shaikhli said the execution would be attended by a religious figure, medical examiner and the area judge. So if the execution is carried out in Abu Ghraib, the misdemeanours court judge in that area would attend the execution. Saddam Hussain's advocate would also attend the execution along with a representative of the prosecution and the prison commander. Al Shaikhli said Saddam would not be told about the execution date but both his family and the medical examiner would be informed. Saddam would be wearing the orange prisoners' overalls at his execution.
Al Musawi denied that hundreds of Iraqis volunteered to take the role of the hangman, as mentioned by the British newspaper. "It would be carried out by an official employee who belongs to the prisons department in the Ministry of Law, as an ordinary person would not be allowed to carry out the task." Both Al Musawi and Al Shaikhli said Saddam would spend his last night with a religious man who would recite verses from the Quran and dictate the Shahada, saying that there is no God but Allah, and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is his messenger, to him. Saddam would also be allowed to take a bath and shave. He would be granted all his wishes, even to see his family. Al Musawi said Saddam would be offered a meal 12 hours before his execution. He said that he had entered Saddam's cell on several occasions, and has seen the food orders the former Iraqi president makes. "Saddam still smokes Cuban cigars, and he likes pizzas and hamburgers. He occasionally is given newspapers and watches documentary films chosen by the security group in charge of him," he added.
On the other hand, Al Shaikhli believes that Saddam would be eliminated through other methods, like the way the Russian spy was killed in London, exposing him to radio active materials, so that the "government would distance itself from clashes with people and their reaction would not be as strong as those if Saddam was executed". "And, for example, if he is subjected to injury or taken to hospital, treated and then moved to intensive care, it would help deal with the the public reaction gradually until Saddam is totally eliminated," said Al Shaikhli. In his opinion, this would be done to ward off clashes with the public who might respond strongly to the execution. Reaction would be less severe if an announcement could be made that Saddam is ill or has been admitted to hospital, and that he is dying, Al Shaikhli said.
While some experts voiced doubts that Saddam would be executed, others are sceptical that Saddam might be hanged, and some experts and observers pointed out that he might be killed in prison gradually to tackle the anger of the his supporters. Others say he might face the same destiny as Slobodan Milosovic and would be left to die slowly in his cell. The general prosecutor of the tribunal holding the trial, Jaafar Al Musawi, and the Iraqi legal expert, Mohammad Al Shaikhli, both agreed in interviews by www.alarabiya.net over the details of the possible execution of Saddam Hussain.
Both stressed that the execution would not be carried out in the public court under the Victory Arch, because the law allows execution to be carried out anywhere in the prison defined by the Ministry of Law. The execution would not be public for everyone to see, but would be attended by a number of people as stipulated by the law. The execution would be covered by media outlets, only after the rope has been removed from around Saddam's neck, for everyone to see that the execution has been carried out.
Both Al Musawi and Al Shaikhli said the execution would be attended by a religious figure, medical examiner and the area judge. So if the execution is carried out in Abu Ghraib, the misdemeanours court judge in that area would attend the execution. Saddam Hussain's advocate would also attend the execution along with a representative of the prosecution and the prison commander. Al Shaikhli said Saddam would not be told about the execution date but both his family and the medical examiner would be informed. Saddam would be wearing the orange prisoners' overalls at his execution.
Al Musawi denied that hundreds of Iraqis volunteered to take the role of the hangman, as mentioned by the British newspaper. "It would be carried out by an official employee who belongs to the prisons department in the Ministry of Law, as an ordinary person would not be allowed to carry out the task." Both Al Musawi and Al Shaikhli said Saddam would spend his last night with a religious man who would recite verses from the Quran and dictate the Shahada, saying that there is no God but Allah, and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is his messenger, to him. Saddam would also be allowed to take a bath and shave. He would be granted all his wishes, even to see his family. Al Musawi said Saddam would be offered a meal 12 hours before his execution. He said that he had entered Saddam's cell on several occasions, and has seen the food orders the former Iraqi president makes. "Saddam still smokes Cuban cigars, and he likes pizzas and hamburgers. He occasionally is given newspapers and watches documentary films chosen by the security group in charge of him," he added.
On the other hand, Al Shaikhli believes that Saddam would be eliminated through other methods, like the way the Russian spy was killed in London, exposing him to radio active materials, so that the "government would distance itself from clashes with people and their reaction would not be as strong as those if Saddam was executed". "And, for example, if he is subjected to injury or taken to hospital, treated and then moved to intensive care, it would help deal with the the public reaction gradually until Saddam is totally eliminated," said Al Shaikhli. In his opinion, this would be done to ward off clashes with the public who might respond strongly to the execution. Reaction would be less severe if an announcement could be made that Saddam is ill or has been admitted to hospital, and that he is dying, Al Shaikhli said.
