Saddam to be hanged

The former President of Iraq, Saddam Hussain has been sentenced to death by hanging.

The Iraqi High Tribunal ruled that he had committed crimes against humanity in ordering the massacre of 148 Shiite civilians in the town of Dujail after an attempt against his life in the early 1980s.

"The court has decided to sentence Saddam Hussein Al Majid to be hanged until he is dead for crimes against him,'' Chief Judge Raouf Abdul Rahman told the court.

As his sentence was read out Saddam yelled "Allahu Akbar!" (God is Greatest) and "Long Live Iraq!''

Two other senior aides of Saddam - his half-brother Barzan Al Tikrit and former revolutionary chief judge Awad Hamed Al Bander – were also handed down death sentences.

Former Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan was sentenced to life in prison and three minor Baath party officials received long sentences.

Abdul Rahman ordered one of the guards around Saddam to leave the court because he was chewing gum and a second guard was ordered out for apparently laughing at the condemned man.

Saddam, along with his co-defendents, was led away by guards after hearing his sentence.

The court proceedings lasted just 45 minutes and were adjourned shortly after Saddam's sentence was read out. Death by hanging is the punishment given to convicted criminals in Iraq.

Saddam's request for the more honourable option of the firing squad, which is reserved for the Iraqi military, was ignored.

A verdict carrying a death sentence or a sentence of life imprisonment is automatically subject to review by a panel of appeal judges, who will decide whether or not to allow a retrial.

Should the judgment stand Saddam will be executed within 30 days the chief prosecutor has said.

Hanging Saddam Hussain for crimes he did or did not do, is not the solution for bringing integrity and harmony in Iraq. Doing this will not reduce violence but will alight more violence that could lead to the loss of more human lives.
Mushtaq
Abu Dhabi,UAE

There was no freedom in Iraq when Saddam was ruling and there is no freedom when Saddam was caught. The Americans are killing 1000s of people. Saddam should not be hanged or imprisoned for the rest of his life.
Bnxs
Sharjah,UAE

The trial is pointless and makes no sense that the Americans keep accusing Iraq and Saddam's regime of terror when in fact Saddam had nothing to do with 9/11. The trial is just a political move for the US since they are having their mid-term elections and trying to cover up the death of 3000 US soldiers. The trial is a big fake sham!
Ahmed
Abu Dhabi,UAE

Saddam should pay for his crimes like any other murderer, either by hanging or firing squad. But if they kill Saddam, they also need to have George W Bush next to him with a rope around his neck.
David
Lincon,USA

Saddam's government punished 148 people for trying to murder their president. Now what sentence would you give a foreigner that comes into your country with millions of guns and manipulates your people resulting in the deaths of 655,000 people.
Anonymous by request
Puerto Rico,USA

Saddam Hussain should not be hanged. Instead he should be given a life sentence so that he may get a chance to repent for what he has done in the past.
Benjamin
Dallas,USA

He should not be hanged. He should be imprisoned for rest of his life.
Leena
Belgaum,India

Saddam Hussain should not be hanged, he should be imprisoned.
C Pereira
Sydney,Australia

What is the authority and independence of the court conducting the trial when Iraq is under the occupation of foreign forces? To be appropriate and fair the case should have been taken in International Court.
KK
Dubai,UAE

His death will lead to violence (civil war) and the partition of Iraq. I guess this is a well knitted plan by USA.
F Makki
Dubai,United Arab Emirates

Saddam Hussain should not be hanged. What he did is for the sake of the country and the people. If he is really guilty, they should let him repent by life imprisonment. That will be the greatest penalty for him than carrying a death penalty.
Pramila
Kathmandu,Nepal

I think Saddam should not be hanged. Hanging him will only send Iraq into a further mess and raise havoc. The matter is not just about revenge it's about peace and order. I hope they reconsider.
M Andrade
Dubai,UAE

He should not be hanged since he lost his entire family in the war and country. He ruled Iraq for a long period. He made some mistakes, but when comparing them with the good that he did for his country, the latter is greater.
Jaffer
Dubai,UAE

He should not be hanged but get life imprisoned because during his regime he had killed 148 people only but now USA is killing hundreds of people in Iraq daily.
Sami
Abu Dhabi,UAE

If Saddam committed crimes for his country, he should not be hanged. I think he should be given another chance to prove his worth as a president of his country. But if he proves to be guilty, then make sure he is punished for what he has done.
Joy
Dubai,UAE

Undoubtedly, he deserves to be punished for his crimes against humanity. But the courts should keep in mind the repercussions within Iraq after his death. It'll also give 'Bush' an easy escape/alibi to help him wash his hands off Iraq (though not entirely) as the cause for any aftermath uprisings will be largely attributed to Saddam's hanging, as far as the international community is concerned.
PB
Dubai,UAE

Even American judges wouldn't give a sentence like this. This is Bush's judge so we already expected this. If he will be hanged for the massacre of 148 (if it is true) that is fine. But what will be the judgment for killing everyday thousands of innocent men.If anyone has to be hanged for doing such kind of crimes it is Bush.
Muhammad
Dubai,UAE

I think this is going to make situations worse in Iraq and also for Americans and Britains all over the world. It will soon be difficult for Americans citizens to live peacefully. Bush has gone wrong in all ways possible.
Nigel
Dubai,UAE

From the humanitarian point of view you can not welcome the death sentence to Saddam even though he committed various crimes. He should be sentenced to life imprisonment under the UN control.
Jacob
Dubai,UAE

The Saddam trial is unfair not to Saddam Hussain but to the people he murdered, including two million Iranians.
Dr mansouri
Dubai,UAE

Saddam should not be hanged till death. This is not fare. If Saddam is America's opponent then America should fight against him and not kill him. Killing the opponent is not nice for America to prove that they are brave.
Rejinijas
Dubai,UAE

Saddam should have been given a chance to prove that US has its own intrest behind this game.
Muhammed
Dubai,UAE

Saddam should not be hanged instead give him a chance to live in his own country not as a president of Iraq but as a citizen.
C Leitao
Dubai,UAE

Saddam should not be hanged. Whatever he did was in the interest of keeping law and order in Iraq. The sectarian violence was under control. Saddam however should be in prison for life.
B Davis
Toronto,Canada

Saddam Hussein should not be hanged. He was the head of the state.
S Vasudevarao
Santa Clara,USA

The verdict was not unexpected, given the magnitude of his crimes. The current situation in Iraq is the legacy of Saddam. The world will be better off without him.
Chris
Gothenburg,Sweden

Saddam must pay for his crimes, but the present court has no authority to produce this verdict as it is built upon vested interests of USA and its allies. It is nothing but a mockery by those who want to ruin that country and take away all the resources. Then Iraq is far better than the current Iraq.
M Rahman M
Dubai,UAE

If Saddam has indeed committed the crimes that he has been sentenced for, which is killing fellow Muslims whether Shia or Suuni, then the hanging is a smaller punishment, for the punishment in the grave and hereafter is greater. May he repent, make Taubah to Allah and may Allah have mercy on all Muslims and forgive them. Ameen.
S Mohamed
Piscataway,USA

This must be a US policy since there is a fear that the current political party in the US might lose votes based on the failure in Iraq, and so is Tony Blair facing some problems here in the UK.However, the bottom line is Saddam should be hanged; actually not hanged but tortured to death the way he killed us Shias in Iraq.
Ahsan
London,UK

I don't care if Saddam Hussain gets death by hanging but no-one in this world can bring peace or control to Iraq or its people except God.
Nasirsalim
Vancouver,Canada

They should do the firing range option, it shows that the Iraqi people have dignity and are progressive-minded towards a new future.
B Vagenta
Abu Dhabi,UAE

Exile is the only option at this time; applying the death sentence will create new tension in Iraq.
JGF
Mumbai,India

He should not be hanged but imprisoned instead.
S. Shajahan
Dubai,UAE

I don't know the exact politics behind the scene, but if Saddam has done a military crime he should be shot if proven guilty, but if he's fighting for his nation then it is not a crime.Iraqi people should file a case against George W Bush in an international court.
Z Ayub
Abu Dhabi,UAE

I would like to say that Saddam Hussain should not be hanged; he should be given a second chance to prove his sincerity. He has committed some crimes, but by means of comparison between the past and present, he should be punished and by looking at the people's views he should be reinstated.
A M Phool
Coventry,England

If he is president all the crimes in Iraq will be gone. The crimes that now take place are because of the USA. Only Saddam knows how to rule Iraqis.
Muhammed
Dubai,UAE