Iraqi Special Tribunal: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The Iraqi Special Tribunal is a body established to try Iraqi nationals or residents accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or other serious crimes committed between 1968 and 2003. It is organising the trial of Saddam Hussein.

The tribunal was set up by the Coalition Provisional Authority and now under the jurisdiction of the Iraqi interim government. It is led by Salem Chalabi a former exile and relative of Ahmad Chalabi (who is himself a relative of interim PM Iyad Allawi). Salem and Ahmad Chalabi were exiles and close US allies until they fell out of favour. [1]

The tribunal is responsible for the trial of Saddam Hussein, Ali Hassan al-Majid (also known as "Chemical Ali"), former Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan, former deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and other former senior officials in the deposed Ba'athist regime. The judge is Ra’id Juhi, who was also a judge under the Baathist regime. Although Salem Chalabi said that the trial was unlikely to start before 2005, the first hearing took place on 1 July 2004 reportedly following US pressure.

It is unclear exactly what standards the tribunal will adhere to. Hussein has been unable to have a lawyer present at the tribunal, and he has claimed, "This is all a theatre, the real criminal is Bush." Following the re-introduction of capital punishment, the Iraqi interim PM Iyad Allawi gave assurances that he would not interfere with the trial and would accept any court decisions, although some of his comments are open to mis-interpretation: "As for the execution, that is for the court to decide — so long as a decision is reached impartially and fairly." [2]

According to British journalist Robert Fisk, the judge, Ra’id Juhi, had indicted Moqtada al-Sadr of murder in April 2004, an important event in the growing Iraqi insurgency. After working as a translator, Juhi was appointed by Paul Bremer. Juhi, 33, is a Shia Muslim and had served for a decade as a judge under Saddam Hussein. [3]

Although officials had asked for the judge's name to be kept secret, allegedly to protect him from retribution [4], it was widely reported in the Arabic press, including newspapers in Baghdad. The only Western newspaper to refuse this kind of self-censorship was the British The Independent and was criticised by Tony Blair's government as a result. Ra'id Juhi had also given interviews and posed for pictures in the context of the Moqtada al-Sadr indictment.