Via the AP: Court: Execute Saddam Within 30 Days:
Iraq’s highest appeals court on Tuesday upheld Saddam Hussein’s death sentence and said he must be hanged within 30 days for the killing of 148 Shiites in the central city of Dujail.The sentence “must be implemented within 30 days,” chief judge Aref Shahin said. “From tomorrow, any day could be the day of implementation.”
Hardly a surprise. I would be shocked if through all of this process Saddam escaped the noose.
There is still the following:
Under Iraqi law, the appeals court decision must be ratified by President Jalal Talabani and Iraq’s two vice presidents. Talabani opposes the death penalty but has in the past deputized a vice president to sign an execution order on his behalf _ a substitute that was legally accepted.
Raed Juhi, a spokesman for the High Tribunal court that convicted Saddam, said the judicial system would ensure that Saddam is executed even if Talabani and the two vice presidents do not ratify the decision.
“We’ll implement the verdict by the power of the law,” Juhi said. He did not elaborate.
I would expect, given the defendant in question, that Talabani would hardly wish to block the action.
The statement by Juhi is disturbing, however, as it indicates a willingness to ignore the legal roles of the various segments of the Iraqi state.
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December 27th, 2006 at 9:58 am
The statement by Juhi is disturbing, however, as it indicates a willingness to ignore the legal roles of the various segments of the Iraqi state.
Also disturbing is the fact that Iraq’s “judicial system” does not conform to international standards and the White House’s inability to recognize that fact.