‘Chemical Ali’ execution postponed for Ramadan

[TexasLawyer]

Source: Reuters

‘Chemical Ali’ execution postponed for Ramadan

3 October 2007

BAGHDAD - Iraq will put off carrying out the death sentence against Saddam Hussein’s cousin, widely known as ‘Chemical Ali’, until the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in 10 days time, the prime minister said on Wednesday.

An Iraqi appeals court upheld Ali Hassan Al Majeed’s death sentence at a hearing on Sept. 4, with the sentence to be carried out within 30 days of that decision. That deadline was to expire on Thursday. ‘We seek a legal path for postponement because we do not want the execution this time to be carried out during Ramadan,’ Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki told a news conference. The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan will end in about 10 days.

Majeed, former Defence Minister Sultan Hashim and Saddam’s former army chief of staff Hussein Rashid were sentenced to death in June for planning and directing a military campaign in 1988 that prosecutors said killed up to 180,000 Kurds.

Rumours had swirled soon after the appeal court decision that Maliki’s Shia -led government would move to hang Majeed before the start of Ramadan last month but he remains in custody in a US detention facility.

Read more: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2007/October/focusoniraq_October22.xml§ion=focusoniraq

[1620rock]

1. Huh? I thought they killed him a couple of years ago.

[NoGodsNoMasters]

2. This is a perfect example...

The right thing CAN be done the wrong way. First of all, this whole damn thing shouldn't have started, i don't know about you guys but I thought Colin Powell was bulshitting us with that slideshow way back and I feel pretty good about that. Honestly if it hadn't been for the crippling sanctions Saddam might have been overthrown for us, but nevermind that. My point is theres' no doubt that Saddam and other members of the Iraq Baath party deserve punishment for crimes against humanity, but they should get it in an International Criminal Court. They should get a fair trial, why not? i mean, let's face it theres' no chance in hell they'd be found innocent because they aren't. The beauty of the ICC is that it IS fair, and international, so it's not prejudiced by national interests. THAT would have been justice and might've even been respected by some people in the middle east. No surprise Saddam's worst atrocities were unmentioned because he was getting weapons from Ronald Reagan. The way it is this whole thing is just a piece of political theatre.This is not justice.Shameful.

[Bozita]

3. Good stuff!

BTW, welcome to DU.

[Crayson]

4. Aren't they allowed to turn the lightswitch of his electrical chair...?

Oh no, wait, wrong religion, sorry, I always mix them up, they all look the same to me.

Is it because he isn't allowed to eat anything?
An thus they can't give him his last meal?

People are SO hypocritical, unbelievable.

Kill him, if it has to be done, so it's over.
"Sparing" him for Ramadan isn't really nice for him. Another month to look forward to your certain execution.. great!