Iraqis flay Saddam defending lawyers; Philippines begins pullout

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: Grand protests to demand the death sentence for ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam were continued on Wednesday in different parts of Iraq.

In Al-Hindiyah (Taweraj), holy city of Karbala, hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets while holding photographs of their loved ones who were brutally killed by Saddam.

Ash-Sheikh Aqeel Al-Fatlawy, representative of Ayatullah Sayyed Ali As-Sistani in Al-Hindiyah, said: “We condemn those lawyers who desire to defend a criminal, and we ask them a question that where were they when Saddam had killed innocents?”

Several protests were also staged in the center of the city demanding execution of Saddam.

In the holy city of Najaf, which houses the holy mausoleum of Al-Imam Ali ben Abi Taleb (p), hundreds of women organized a protest rally against Saddam.

Holding placards inscribed with statements i.e. “aggrieved mothers, wives and sisters demand from Iraqi tribunal execution of Saddam” for crimes against humanity, the protestors who were covered in veil chanted slogans “death to Saddam” and “death to Ba’ath party.”

Last week, Iraqi women imprisoned in Saddam regime formed a women association breaking their silence. The group wants to document the crimes of the former regime - and highlight the crimes women suffered under Saddam's rule.

The association staged a drama in Iraq's National Theatre of a woman pleading for five more minutes with her baby. Instead, her guards took her away to be executed for spying.

Scores of women covered in black cloaks worn by religious Muslim women jammed the theatre, along with their husbands, children and the children of some of the executed. They joined to demand the right to take part in decision-making in the new Iraq.

“Today, my faithful sisters, each one of us has to take role in society,” said Iman al-Mousawi, 43, a former prisoner and the director of the association. “Our chains have broken… we demand the right to help rebuild Iraq.”

Just sharing the trauma can help women “not to be ashamed, but proud of their prison experience.”

The dramatic presentations were also meant to help expose the suffering to others. Ibrahim Al-Jafari, Iraq's new interim vice-president, attended the presentation to offer moral support.

Meanwhile, Philippines on Wednesday began pulling its troops out of Iraq to save the life of a Filipino hostage.

END