Baghdad, Iraq – Witnesses for two Saddam Hussein co- defendants accused of taking part in a 1982 massacre of 148 people described the men as fair and merciful, and they dismissed the destruction of the village’s fields and orchards as an economic redevelopment project.
Defense witnesses denied that the defendants, former spy chief Barzan Ibrahim and former Revolutionary Court Chief Judge Awad al-Bandar, took part in the massacre – even as they acknowledged they had little direct information about the incident in the village of Dujayl.
Prosecutors claim the men led a violent, retaliatory purge against the predominately Shiite Muslim residents of Dujayl after a failed assassination attempt on Hussein during a visit there.
The proceedings were briefly interrupted when a defense attorney pointed to the gallery overlooking the heavily guarded courtroom and accused an observer of taunting and threatening him.
“The visitors are talking and signaling to us,” the defense lawyer said, identifying one of the men as a prominent member of the leading Shiite Dawa party.
Hussein’s attorneys have accused Dawa of plotting the 1982 assassination attempt on the deposed Iraqi president, whose cadre of Sunni Arab elites ruled Iraq until the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
“Our lives are in danger, and these people are threatening us,” the defense attorney said. Judge Raouf Rasheed Abdel-Rahman ejected the man in the balcony.
Journalists were asked not to identify the lawyer and the ejected man for fear of reprisals against them. Two defense lawyers were assassinated last year, and court officials have instituted tight security measures.
Several of the witnesses Monday offered salutations to the defendants – particularly Hussein.
“Regards to your family, President Saddam,” said one former member of Barzan’s personal security team.
“I bring greetings from one of your tribe – your uncle,” said former police officer Galib Mutar Latif. “I would die for you! I would die for you, president!”
Hussein, who remained silent during most of the hearing, smiled and called out: “Greet the Al Obeidi tribe for us!”
