Saddam, 69, initially refused to stand when brought in to hear the verdict from Kurdish chief judge Raouf Abdul Rahman, at a quickfire, 45-minute hearing. When he did, shakily, with clear emotion, he yelled the defiant Arab battle cry “Allahu Akbar!” (God is Greatest) and “Long live Iraq” as the judgment was read.
“The court has decided to sentence Saddam Hussein al-Majid to be hanged until he is dead for crimes against humanity,” Abdul Rahman said, ignoring Saddam’s earlier bombastic plea that he should face a military firing squad, not the hangman’s noose.
Here’s a video of Saddam’s sentencing. It’s fascinating to watch even without understanding the bulk of the language.
[via Healing Iraq]
