Halabja Does Not Influence My Treatment of Saddam (Judge Says)

Judge Raouf Rasheed, who oversaw the last session of the trial of Saddam Hussein and his seven deputies, praised former judge Rizgar Amin for acting in a fair and just manner in the tribunal. Rasheed (who has taken a much tougher line with the defendants in the crimes against humanity tribunal) said he has a different style in running the court that does not violate the tribunal's administrative system. He maintained that judges should not be influenced by politicians' opinions of them. He denied that the Halabja campaign influenced his treatment of Saddam. (Many accuse the former regime of launching chemical attacks against Kurds in Halabja, Rasheed's hometown, in 1988.) Rasheed maintained that he is under oath to carry out his mission in a fair and just manner. He said he would remove himself from his position if he felt he was being influenced.