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Hussein's Day at Trial: More Rancor and a Fight
Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein argues with new chief judge, Rauf Rashid Abdel Rahman, after his half brother, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, was forcibly removed from their trial held in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, 29 January, 2006. Deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein walked out from the court a few minutes after his trial resumed, an AFP correspondent said. Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants face charges over the 1982 killing of 148 people in the village of Dujail. They could face the death penalty if found guilty.
(David Furst - Afp/Getty Images)
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"I said this court is a bastard," Ibrahim said.
"You are a defendant standing before a judicial authority," Abdel-Rahman said. "I ask you to utter polite terms."
"I don't mean it in a common way," Ibrahim replied, criticizing the judge's "military" manner and gesturing theatrically.
Ibrahim continued with a lengthy speech, saying he had developed cancer and had not been given proper treatment. Abdel-Rahman interrupted and ordered Ibrahim to sit down, but Ibrahim angrily refused, shouting and gesturing wildly. Losing patience, Abdel-Rahman threatened to throw Ibrahim out of the court.
Bailiffs surrounded Ibrahim, and when he would not take his seat they grabbed him by both arms and dragged him out. Ibrahim, shouting with rage, fought the guards. Hussein stood up, chanting "Long live Iraq, long live Iraq!" The audience watched, stunned by the spectacle, and guards made a feeble attempt to maintain order.
"We've had enough of this!" Abdel-Rahman bellowed, pounding his gavel. "Have your seats!"
But his commands went unheeded. The judge, the lawyers and Hussein all shouted at one another as pandemonium gripped the courtroom. During this fracas, one of the defense attorneys was also forcibly removed from the room.
"Those who want to sit, then sit," Abdel-Rahman said. "Those who want to go, get out." The defense attorneys marched out of the courtroom, and after a pause in which it was unclear whether the proceedings would resume, six court-appointed lawyers were brought in.
Hussein, wearing a blue suit and a dress shirt with no necktie, refused to accept the new defense attorneys and accused the court, as he has before, of being a pawn of the U.S. government.
"What do we have to do with the Americans?" Abdel-Rahman responded. "To hell with the Americans. This is an Iraqi court formed by an Iraqi law."
"No, not by Iraqi law," Hussein replied. "It's American, the court and its law. The lawyer is the right of the defendant. You cannot force me to be in the court. It is my right to leave, and your right to sentence me in absentia. Does the law say the defendant should stay in the court?"
After Abdel-Rahman continued trying to make Hussein accept the court-appointed attorneys, Hussein turned to the lawyers and said, "If you stay here, you are evil." Then he turned to the judge and shouted: "Don't force me! This is my right. I will continue to respect you as an Iraqi. Allow me to leave because I cannot take it anymore."
