Al-Dujail case (Saddam Hussein et al.) fr

Country of proceedings: Iraq
Context of crimes: Iraq
Date: 2006
Keywords: Crimes against humanity (murder, illegal detention, deportation, torture, other inhuman acts), accountability (head of state)

Court documents
05-11-2006 - Iraqi High Tribunal Judgement

Presentation of the case
The Al-Dujail case dealt with allegations that the former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, and his seven co-defendants responded to an assassination attempt on the President in the town of Dujail in 1982 by attacking the inhabitants with gunships and destroying the farmland, date palm groves and water supply. In addition to this, 300 residents were arrested and interrogated at centres where they were tortured. One-third of the victims died at these centres. Whole families were interned at a desert compound for four years. Those who survived were referred to the Revolutionary Court where they were found guilty without a proper trial, sentenced to death and executed.

On 5 November 2006, the Trial Chamber of the Iraqi High Tribunal (IHT) announced the verdict and sentence of the eight accused: one defendant, Mohammed Azawi Ali, was acquitted; three defendants, Mizhar Abdullah Ruwayyid, Ali Dayih Ali, and Abdallah Kazim Ruwayyid (local Ba’ath party members) were sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment; Taha Yassin Ramadan, (Vice President of Iraq) was sentenced to life in prison; Saddam Hussein, Awad al-Bandar (former President of the Revolutionary Court) and Barzan Ibrahim, (former head of the Iraqi Intelligence Service) were sentenced to death.

Related commentary
International Justice Forgotten?, written by ICTY President Fausto Pocar

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