News / Politics
Saddam Hussein Execution Rumors Anger Iraqi Justice Ministry
With rumors swirling that Saddam Hussein could be executed as soon as Saturday Iraq’s Justice Ministry has vehemently denied any such plans. While Hussein remains in the custody of the U.S. military it I sup to the Iraqi Justice department to carry out the death sentence.
There has been large scale debate as to when that sentence will be implemented. A senior official in Iraq’s Justice Department insisted that the former dictator would not be executed before January 26 yet Hussein’s defense attorneys have reported that their client could be hung as early as Saturday.
Hussein’s chief defense lawyer, Khalil al-Dulaimi has said that American officials requested he appoint somebody to collect his client’s personal belongings from the prison in which he is being held. It is the belief of al-Dulaimi that the U.S. will be turning Hussein over to Iraqi officials shortly thereafter.
Two of Hussein’s brothers, both of which are in U.S. custody as well, visited with Saddam yesterday. Much publicity has been made surrounding the nature of that meeting and it is believed that it was Hussein’s opportunity to bid his farewell.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has assured the Iraqi people and the rest of the world that the 69-year-old former leader’s death sentence would be carried saying, “After the endorsement of the court ruling, no one can prevent the execution sentence against Saddam. There will be neither a revision nor a delay in the implementation of the execution sentence against Saddam and his aides.”
Just how soon that sentence will be carried out is up for debate. With the Eid al-Adha holiday beginning this weekend and lasting until at least Thursday it is unlikely Hussein would be executed during that period.
Saddam was sentenced to hang for his involvement in the murders of 148 people in the northern city of Dujail in 1982. Earlier this week Iraqi’s highest appeals court rejected Hussein’s final plea and ordered his execution to be carried out.
