New Delhi: Two days after the Iraqi High Tribunal appeals court upheld Saddam's death sentence imposed for crimes against humanity during his 24-year rule, Iraqi streets are abuzz with speculation that the deposed Iraqi president may be hanged in secret within days and the execution announced only after the act.
As per the court verdict, Saddam Hussein faces hanging within 30 days from Wednesday. Sources in the Iraqi government say the former dictator has already lost his last legal means of avoiding execution, as the Iraqi authorities might not require the approval of the Iraqi President to carry out the sentence.
Some reports coming out of Baghdad say the Iraqi authorities might go for a public execution broadcast on television.
On his part, the former Iraqi president seems to have already resigned to fate. In a letter on Thursday, he said his execution would be a sacrifice for Iraq. He urged the Iraqis to unite and fight the US forces.
''Here I offer myself in sacrifice. If God almighty wishes, it (my soul) will take me where he orders to be with the martyrs," Saddam said in the hand-written letter released in Jordan by his defence lawyers. "If my soul goes down this path (of martyrdom), it will face God in serenity," he said in his 'farewell letter', which was written on November 5.
The Iraqi government has maintained a studied silence about the conduct of the execution, seeking to contain political tensions his death might unleash.
Saddam's die-hard followers, who form part of the Sunni Arab insurgency, have threatened a bloody backlash if he is executed.
Saddam's Baath party has also threatened to retaliate if the ousted leader is executed, saying hanging him was a red line the United States should not cross.
The Iraqi Government also faces serious opposition from international human rights groups and other governments on the Saddam execution issue.
Human rights groups like Amnesty International have, in fact, trashed the Appeal Court ruling, which they claim has come at the end of a flawed trial that lacked independence from political interference. French anti-execution group ECPM branded the ruling a 'setback' for international law, saying thousands of victims of Saddam's regime, particularly ethnic Kurds, will now miss out on seeing him tried for other crimes.
European governments, too, have voiced their opposition to the death penalty for the ex-dictator, but congratulated Iraq on what they call a 'lawful trial'. Nations like Germany, France and Italy have time and again emphasised their opposition to the death penalty.
Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema expressed his country's 'unconditional' opposition to the death penalty and his 'concern for (its) repercussions on the difficult process of national reconciliation in Iraq'. France, however, said the decision 'belongs to the Iraqi people and the sovereign authorities of Iraq'. India has also opposed a death sentence to Saddam Hussein.
Comments
0 comment