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Iraqi Justice Minister Differs With PM Over Saddam's Trial Date

Posted on: Saturday, 1 October 2005, 15:00 CDT

Text of report by Sami Mahasinah "The Iraqi justice minister tells Al-Arab Al-Yawm: we have not been informed about Saddam's trial date at the court", carried by Jordanian newspaper Al-Arab al- Yawm on 1 October

Iraqi Justice Minister Abd-al-Husayn Shandal has denied knowledge that 19 October is set as a date for the trial of former Iraqi President Saddam Husayn. Shandal stressed that we have not been officially informed of any specific date regarding the case.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'fari told Karbala residents the day before yesterday that Saddam's trial is set on 19 October. Shandal asked: Did the president of the special court make such announcement? He criticized the government's announcement of a date for the trial by pointing out that the Iraqi judiciary is independent and fair. He also criticized the former Iraqi Defence Minister Hazim al-Sha'lan for criticizing the Iraqi judiciary. Shandal added that the Iraqi judiciary has more integrity than Al- Sha'lan.

Speaking to Al-Arab al-Yawm in Amman, where he participated in a meeting of the Arab Justice Ministers, Shandal said that the Iraqi National Assembly had finalized an amended law regarding the special tribunal trying Saddam and his aides. The new law, he added, is issued by an Iraqi authority while the previous law, which had been issued by Bremer and the occupation authority, was questionable. He expressed hope that the new law would see the light soon, noting that the delayed approval of the law is caused by the presidency, not the prime minister's office. Shandal noted that the Iraqi Justice Ministry is yet to receive the new law. Once approved, it will be published in the official gazette, he added.

The Iraqi minister noted that the new law deals with the court's structural organization and affairs, adding that the new law will not obstruct the court's function because it is organizational in nature.

Asked about the charges made against former Iraqi President Saddam Husayn regarding crimes that were not mentioned in the Iraqi Penal Code under Saddam's rule, the minister said that these humanitarian crimes are not mentioned by name but the deeds involved are punishable under the Iraqi laws.

Minister Shandal denied that the Justice Ministry is reluctant to grant Arab and foreign lawyers an opportunity to defend Saddam Husayn. He added: Only one French lawyer has stepped forward and we approved his request. The ministry does not object to any lawyer with a power of attorney so long as he is qualified to practice the law in his own country. The ministry has the right to verify this information because there is a rule of law in this country.

The minister pointed out that he had objected to the pictures taken of former Iraqi President Saddam Husayn in his underwear.

Asked on the repeated Jordanian request for Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Chalabi to comply with the Jordanian court orders in connection with the Bank of Petra's embezzlement charges, the minister said: We demand the cancellation of this verdict. This is a civil case and it has not been proved that Chalabi is responsible for the bankruptcy of the Bank of Petra. I wonder why the case should be referred to a military court.

Asked on remarks by former Iraqi Defence Minister Hazim al- Sha'lan that the Iraqi judiciary is not fair and his decision to file a lawsuit before the British courts against three Iraqi officials, Shandal said: The Iraqi judiciary has more integrity than Hazim, who should demand a financial committee to investigate the matter. The Iraqi judiciary does not rely on corrupt people and does not know him personally to make such charges. I wonder why he filed a lawsuit before the British judiciary. Is it because he has British nationality?

The minister called for establishing a neutral fact-finding financial committee to look into the charges against Al-Sha'lan to find out the truth.

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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