IRAQ: DEATH IS STILL ON THE CARDS

September 23, 2012

When the argument about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction began to flounder, people consoled themselves with the thought that Saddam Hussein was an evil dictator anyway: his summary executions were a testimony to that.

As far as death sentences go, however, little has changed in Iraq. Hangings are so routine, that on the last week of August alone, 26 people were killed. The situation has prompted the United Nations and Amnesty International to call for a moratorium, particularly because of the trials appear to be far from fare and open. Amnesty's website highlights some of the issues as follows:

"Many of the trials of those sentenced to death have failed to meet international fair trial standards, including by allowing “confessions” obtained under torture or other ill-treatment to be used as evidence against those accused. Some Iraqi television stations continue to broadcast self-incriminating testimonies of detainees even before the opening of a trial, undermining the fundamental right of defendants to be considered innocent until proven guilty."

The U.N. investigator on arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, called referred to these executions as "arbitrary killing".

A good example of the lack of due process with reference to these trials is the case of Iraq’s Sunni vice president, Tariq al-Hashemi, a rival of Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who was sentenced to death on September 9, 2012 for allegedly promoting death squads. He was tried in absentia having managed to flee to safety before the trial. He is now living in self imposed exile in Turkey.

In my post, yesterday, I mentioned the barbaric bounty offered by a Pakistani government minister for the murder of the maker of the provocative film: Innocence of Muslims. Well, the Iraqi's have a similar role model: George W Bush. In April 2003, he set up a list of most wanted Iraqi's and then had them transposed onto playing cards, as he considered handing such packs to his soldiers more productive than hammering "Wanted" signs onto tree trunks.

So what happened to the 52 ill-fated Iraqis on those cards? Their demise shows just how thorough he Iraqi regime has become. Here's a breakdown taken from Wikipedia:

"Spades

• Ace: Saddam Hussein, president (#1 on most-wanted list) (Executed 2006).

• King ♠: Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as Chemical Ali (#5) (Executed 2010).

• Queen ♠: Muhammad Hamza Zubaydi, retired RCC member (#9, but was originally #18) (Died in Custody 2005).

• Jack ♠: Ibrahim Ahmad Abd al-Sattar Muhammad, Iraqi armed forces chief of staff (#13, was #11) (Died in Custody 2010)

. • Ten ♠: Hamid Raja Shalah, Air Force commander (#17, was #15) (Captured 2005).

• Nine ♠: Rukan Razuki Abd Al-Ghafar Sulayman Al-Majid, head of tribal affairs office (#21, was #39) (Unknown).

• Eight ♠: Tariq Aziz, deputy prime minister (#25, was #43) (Surrendered 2003, Sentenced to Death).

• Seven ♠: Mahmud Dhiyab, minister of interior (#29, was #46) (Surrendered 2003, Released in July 2012).

• Six ♠: Amir Rashid Muhammad al-Ubaydi, presidential adviser/former oil minister (#33, was #47) (Surrendered 2003).

• Five ♠: Watban Ibrahim Hasan, presidential adviser (#37, was #51) (Captured 2003, Sentenced to Death).

• Four ♠: Muhammad Zimam Abd al-Razzaq, Baath Party regional command chairman (#41, was #23) (Unknown).

• Three ♠: Sa'd Abdul-Majid Al-Faisal, Baath Party Regional command chairman (#55, was #36) (Unknown).

• Two ♠: Rashid Taan Kazim, Baath Party regional chairman (#49, was #30) (Unknown).

Clubs

• Ace ♣: Qusay Saddam Husayn, son of Saddam(#2), killed in standoff with US Army in Mosul, Iraq 2003.

• King ♣: Izzat Ibrahim, RCC vice chairman (#6).

• Queen ♣: Kamal Mustafa Abdallah Sultan, secretary of the Republican Guard (#10, was #8).

• Jack ♣: Sayf Al-Din Fulayyih Hasan Taha Al-Rawi, Republican Guard chief of staff (#14, was #12).

• Ten ♣: Latif Nusayyif Jasim, Baath Party military bureau deputy chairman (#18, was #37).

• Nine ♣: Jamal Mustafa Abdallah Sultan, deputy head of tribal affairs (#22, was #40).

• Eight ♣: Walid Hamid Tawfiq, governor of Basra (#26, was #44).

• Seven ♣: Ayad Futayyih Khalifa, Quds forces chief of staff (#30, was #20).

• Six ♣: Husam Muhammad Amin, head of National Monitoring Directorate (#34, was #49) (Released 2005).

• Five ♣: Barzan Ibrahim Hasan, presidential adviser (#38, was #52) (Executed 2007).

• Four ♣: Samir Abd Al-Aziz, Baath Party regional command chairman (#42, was #24).

• Three ♣: Sayf al-Din Al-Mashhadani, Baath Party regional command chairman (#46, was #27).

• Two ♣: Ugla Abid Saqr, Baath Party regional chairman (#50, was #31).

Hearts

• Ace ♥: Uday Saddam Husayn, son of Saddam Hussein, killed in standoff with US Army in Mosul, Iraq 2003 (#3).

• King ♥: Hani Abd al-Latif Tilfah, Director—special security organization (#7). (Unknown)

• Queen ♥: Barzan Abd al-Ghafur Sulayman Majid, Special Republican Guard commander (#11, was #9).

• Jack ♥: Rafi Abd Al-Latif Tilfah, AKA Mark Sterling, director of general security (#15, was #13).

• Ten ♥: Abd Al-Tawab Mullah Huwaysh, deputy prime minister (#19, was #16).

• Nine ♥: Mizban Khadr Hadi, RCC member (#23, was #41).

• Eight ♥: Sultan Hashim Ahmad, minister of defense (#27, was #19).

• Seven ♥: Zuhayr Talib Abd Al-Sattar, director of military intelligence (#31, was #21).

• Six ♥: Muhammad Mahdi (#35, was #48).

• Five ♥: Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash, weapons of mass destruction scientist (known as "Mrs. Anthrax"; No. 39, was #53; also the only female on the entire list) (Released 2005).

• Four ♥: Humam Abd Al-Khaliq Abd, minister of higher education and scientific research (#43, was #54).

• Three ♥: Fadil Mahmud Gharib, Baath Party regional command chairman (#47, was #28).

• Two ♥: Ghazi Hammud, Baath Party regional command chairman (#51, was #32).

Diamonds

• Ace ♦: Abid Hamid Mahmud, presidential secretary (#4), executed on 7th June 2012.

• King ♦: Aziz Salih, Baath Party regional command chairman (#8, was #17).

• Queen ♦: Muzahim Sa'b Hasan, air defense forces commander (#12, was #10).

• Jack ♦: Tahir Jalil Habbush, Iraqi intelligence service (#16, was #14).

• Ten ♦: Taha Yasin Ramadan, vice president/RCC member (#20, was #38).

• Nine ♦: Taha Muhyi Al-Din Maruf, vice president/RCC member (#24, was #42).

• Eight ♦: Hikmat Mizban Ibrahim, deputy prime minister and finance minister (#28, was No. 45 – Died in Custody 2012).

• Seven ♦: Amir Hamudi Hasan, presidential scientific adviser (#32, was #55).

• Six ♦: Sabawi Ibrahim Hasan, presidential adviser (#36, was #50).

• Five ♦: Abd al-Baqi Abd al-Karim Abdallah, Baath Party regional command chairman (#40, was #22).

• Four ♦: Yahya Abdallah, Baath Party regional command chairman (#44, was #25), Died in 2003.

• Three ♦: Muhsin Khadr, Baath Party regional command chairman (#48, was #29).

• Two ♦: Adil Abdallah Mahdi, Baath Party regional command chairman (#52, was #33)."