Saddam on Trial: Understanding and Debating the Iraqi High Tribunal

Abstract:     
Saddam Hussein. Derided as the Butcher of Baghdad, the Iraqi leader was toppled from power by a U.S. military invasion in 2003, charged with the most serious crimes known to mankind, and then brought to justice before a novel war crimes court known as the Iraqi High Tribunal (IHT).

From October 2005 through July 2006, Saddam and seven of his henchmen engaged in a legal battle of epic proportions, with their lives literally in the balance. The first of several planned trials before the Iraqi High Tribunal, this proceeding focused on the destruction of the town of Dujail and the torture and murder of its inhabitants in retaliation for a 1982 failed assassination attempt. Billed by the international media as the real trial of the century, the televised proceedings were punctuated by gripping testimony of atrocities, controversial judicial rulings, assassination of defense counsel, the resignation of judges, scathing outburst by the defendants, allegations of mistreatment, hunger strikes, and even underwear appearances.

Was it a mistake to try Saddam in Baghdad before a panel of Iraqi judges rather than before an international tribunal? Was the Iraqi High Tribunal legitimate judicial institution? Were the proceedings fundamentally fair? Did the judges react properly to the defendants' attempts to derail the proceedings? Did the Prosecution prove its case? Did Saddam have any valid defenses? What precedents did this extraordinary trial set?

This book thus reproduces the best of the expert essays, and includes English translations of the most important documents related to the trial. It also includes a psychological profile of Saddam Hussein written by a former CIA profiler, a glossary of key legal terms, a timeline of the trial, a summary of the evidence and testimony, and recommendations for future trials. This book is written in a style intended to appeal to the general reader, as well as to law students, undergraduates, academics and journalists. At the same time, we hope policy makers and jurists will benefit from our critiques and recommendations related to the future of international war crimes trials.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 16

Keywords: Saddam Hussein, Saddam Trial, Iraqi High Tribunal, war crimes, international criminal law, Iraq, international humanitarian law

JEL Classification: K3, K33, H56

Accepted Paper Series