Tyrants on Trial
As preparations are made for Saddam Hussein’s trial in Iraq, Clive Foss examines the precedents for bringing tyrants to justice and finds the process fraught with political complexity.
At first sight it seems obvious that Saddam Hussein is guilty of crimes against humanity and should face justice and an appropriate penalty. If the justice he is to face were Islamic, the process could be simple and swift: he could be charged with anything from betrayal of trust to making war against God, and would be faced by witnesses before a single judge who would almost certainly find him guilty and order his death by beheading, to be carried out immediately. Although he could speak in his own defence, there would be no lawyers and no appeals. That, however, is not going to happen. Saddam will be tried by a specially appointed Iraqi tribunal, determined to be seen to be fair and to show that the norms of international justice prevail in Iraq. The trial will almost certainly be long and complicated.
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