Iraq Trial Lawyers Under Threat: Second Murder in Two Weeks

As the trial of Saddam Hussein's co-defendants unfolds in Baghdad, tensions have reached a boiling point. Just two weeks after the abduction and murder of Sadoun al-Janabi, another defence lawyer, Adel Muhammad Abbas, has been killed in a shooting attack on his way to meet his clients. Abbas was representing Taha Yassin Ramadan, a former Vice-President and close aide of Saddam, and his colleague, Tamer Hamoud Hadi, was representing Saddam's half-brother, Barzan Ibrahim al Tikriti. The defence team has blamed Shia death squads linked to the governing parties in Iraq for the attacks and has called for the trial to be moved outside the country for the safety of the lawyers and to ensure a proper hearing for the defendants.

Key Takeaways:

• The murder of Adel Muhammad Abbas is the second attack on defence lawyers in two weeks, with Sadoun al-Janabi being abducted and killed last month.
• The defence team has suspended contact with the Iraqi Special Tribunal and is demanding better protection in Baghdad.
• The eight defendants, including Taha Yassin Ramadan and Barzan Ibrahim al Tikriti, are charged with killing over 140 Shia villagers from Dujail in 1982.
• The trial is scheduled to resume on November 28.
• The defence team blames Shia death squads linked to the governing parties in Iraq for the attacks on defence lawyers.
• Saddam Hussein's former regime leaders face a critical trial, but the threat to defence lawyers' safety has raised concerns about the fairness of the trial.

Statistics:

• Over 140 Shia villagers from Dujail were killed by Saddam Hussein's regime in 1982, as charged against the eight defendants.
• Two defence lawyers have been targeted in the past two weeks, with one killed and another abducted.
• The Iraqi Special Tribunal has faced criticism for the lack of protection for defence lawyers, leading to the suspension of contact between the trial and the defence team.
• The trial of Saddam Hussein's co-defendants is scheduled to resume on November 28.

Sources:

• The Times, 2005