SADDAM Hussein’s attorneys yesterday said they would boycott today’s postponed trial session, and threatened to boycott future sessions unless a new chief judge they accuse of bias apologises for “intimidating” them.
“We took a decision unanimously not to attend the next session at all because we don’t want to harm our clients or ourselves,” chief lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi said.
“Our attendance at future sessions is dependent on whether the court submits a formal apology. We will be adopting a tougher stance from now on,” he said in a monumental hissy-fit unbecoming of the deposed despot who ruled Iraq with two iron fists.
Saddam’s odious trial again collapsed into chaos moments after resuming on Sunday, when the former Iraqi president spat the dummy and stormed out of court. Guards dragged Saddam's half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti from the court after the petulant underling refused to pipe down.
More reminiscent of World Championship Wrestling than of a demure courtroom, the scenes played out as new chief judge, Raouf Abdel Rahman, tried to stamp his authoritah.
The judge, who reluctantly stepped in after his predecessor resigned citing criticism of his soft-handed approach as the reason, told Saddam's lawyers he would not allow them to make political statements in court.
“The judge must apologize for his aggressive and unlawful behavior. He acted without respect for anyone in a dictatorial fashion,” said Dulaimi, calling the kettle black.
“The atmosphere in the court is now one of intense intimidation and terror, much more than in previous sessions, and this was from the moment we entered the court and even after we left,” Dulaimi droned.
He cited the treatment of Barzan and of high-priced Jordanian lawyer Saleh al-Armouti, who was ejected after questioning the legitimacy of the US-backed court.
“Barzan was tied by more than six guards who punched him several blows inside the court and after he was dragged away from the sight of lawyers,” Dulaimi said, adding rather pathetically that Saddam himself was nearly punched by guards too.
Saleh al-Armuti, one of the four lawyers in Saddam's all-star team, said the defence would not return to court unless the judge was dismissed. If this occurred, that would mean appointment of a fourth judge for the trial, which Saddam's team would love - as it would support criticisms they've already made regarding lack of consistency.
“We will not return to the court unless the judge is sacked,” said Jordanian Saleh al-Armuti.
“We made several requests to the judge which he turned down, notably a written request for the court to be transferred to Jordan or Qatar,” said the lawyer. And this is the nub of the matter - like a whiny schoolboy, whenever Saddam is not winning the legal game his team calls for a rule change.