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Iraq court begins new trial for former Saddam Hussein aides

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] An Iraqi court on Sunday began a new trial for 16 former Saddam Hussein-era officials, including Hussein cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid - better known in the Western media as "Chemical Ali" - and former Iraqi deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz. The accused are charged in connection with the killings of protesters who rioted in Baghdad and Amarah following the alleged assassination of Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Sadiq al-Sadr - father of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr - by Hussein agents. If convicted, the men could face the death penalty. AP has more. In June, al-Majid denied his involvement in the killings of Shiite civilians during the time of Saddam Hussein's regime. Al-Majid has already been sentenced to death for his role in the 1988 Anfal campaign against the Kurds. The death penalties in that case have yet to be carried out. Al-Majid has also been accused of the killings of Shiites during a post-1991 Gulf War riot. Earlier this year, Aziz was put on trial for his involvement in the 1992 murders of several merchants accused of price gouging during a period on UN sanctions. No verdict has yet been rendered in that case.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on November 24, 2008 (boomark / email).