Hussein Era Officials Sentenced to Death in Iraq

This is Aziz's first conviction in the controversial Iraqi High Tribunal process, which has been criticised by human rights groups on a number of counts. Photo by BGNES

An Iraqi court sentenced to death Monday a former Iraqi general known as "Chemical Ali" for his role in putting down a uprising in Baghdad a decade ago, Iraqi state TV reported, cited by CNN.

Tariq Aziz, the former deputy prime minister and foreign minister, was acquitted in the same trial Monday along with three other former members of the Saddam Hussein regime. Aziz is awaiting sentencing in a second, unrelated trial next week.

It is the third death sentence for Ali Hasan al-Majeed, a cousin of Saddam Hussein, the former Iraqi dictator.

Al-Majeed has been on death row for more than a year. He first was convicted for his role in the 1988 Anfal campaign, where he earned his nickname for using poison gas against Kurds in northern Iraq, where thousands of people died.

On the other hand, Aziz had denied any role in the summary trials of the men accused in 1992 of profiteering during economic sanctions, the BBC commented.

This is Aziz's first conviction in the controversial Iraqi High Tribunal process, which has been criticised by human rights groups on a number of counts. He could also have received a death penalty. Last week he was acquitted in a separate trial over the killings of Shia Muslim protesters in 1999.

Two other officials were sentenced to death by hanging alongside al-Majeed for crimes against humanity, CNN reported. They are Aziz Saleh Hassan al-Noman and Mahmood Faizi Mohammed al-Haza, former senior members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party. Seven others were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six years to life.

 

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