Gallows for Saddam
By the Editor

AS was being envisioned, the deposed President of Iraq Saddam Hussein has been sentenced to death by hanging by an Iraqi court in Baghdad for ‘crimes against humanity’.

The sentence was awarded to Saddam on the charge of killing 148 people in 1982. The Iraqi nation, already in a state of sectarian strife, received the court verdict with mixed reaction. Of-course, the world is also divided on this verdict.

The verdict of the Iraqi court has surprised none the world over. It’s proven once again that no one can escape the Divine retribution and one has to pay for his deeds sooner or later.

Saddam’s conviction to the capital punishment was, in fact, quite evident from the manner the proceedings of the court were held over the months.

Its prejudice against Saddam was writ large in its every action during the trial.

Saddam’s fate was clear right from the day he was captured because of his own conduct as Iraq’s ruler and the moral status of the court, since it was constituted by the administration, installed by the anti-Saddam invaders.

Posterity will, however, judge whether the verdict represents the justice or the ‘victor’s justice’. Yet it’s clear that Iraq stands further divided today as was witnessed the spontaneous public reaction of jubilation and protest in Shia and Sunni areas.

Captivatingly, while Saddam has been awarded death sentence for the killing of 148 people, human conscience questions as to who is responsible for the massacre of the Iraqis since the invasion of Baghdad.

It’s estimated that three to five lac people have perished in the invasion and resistance to occupation in Iraq. Earlier too, about half a million Iraqi children had fallen victim to the Washington manipulated UN sanctions on Iraq after Kuwait episode.

The perpetrators of this crime are, in fact, guilty of more heinous crimes. Besides, the fact that the killers in Bosnia are masquerading right under the nose of the NATO forces exposes the mockery of West’s justice.

The US neo-cons have undoubtedly earned still more hatred and embarrassment as a result of the Iraqi court’s verdict.

But, at the same time, it’s hoped that Saddam Hussein will file appeal under the law of the land, although its fate too is a foregone conclusion.

Anyhow, the rejection of capital punishment for Saddam by the European Union [EU] may be an element of hope for the ousted President of Iraq, who once used to be a popular leader of his nation.●