Saddam trial 'a farce'

2006-04-10 12:32

Nadia Abou El-Magd

Cairo - Saddam Hussein's eldest daughter praised her uncle, Barzan Ibrahim, and the others currently on trial with her father as "Iraq's real men," in an interview aired on Sunday on pan-Arab satellite network Al-Arabiya.

Raghad Saddam Hussein called the trial "a farce and unfair" and praised the seven men who are facing charges with her father for the deaths of 148 Shi'ite Muslims in 1982 in the town of Dujail, particularly her uncle.

"My uncle Barzan has been remarkable in court, very courageous and a real hero," Raghad said. "He has clarified the wrong impression that was made about Iraqi men. Those who surround my father, they what could be called Iraq's real men, the honourable image that represents our country."

Barzan Ibrahim, Saddam's half-brother, appeared in one court session in February dressed only in an undershirt and long underwear, struggling with guards as he was pulled into the courtroom. The former chief of intelligence then sat on the floor with his back to the judge in protest for much of the session.

Saddam had her husband killed

Raghad, who has been living in Amman, Jordan, with her sister, Rana, and their children since August 2003, said she believed most Iraqis were not happy with the trial, and those who acted pleased "were chosen by a certain party to reach a certain goal."

"You know the depth that Iranian influence has reached inside this country," she added, speaking of Iraq's predominantly Shi'ite Muslim neighbour.

Many of Saddam's hundreds of thousands of victims are believed to be Shi'ites. He controlled the country with a few Sunni followers.

Raghad, who has given several television and print interviews since moving to Jordan, appeared on Sunday with a new haircut, her head bare, and a confident demeanour. She seemed more comfortable than in past interviews.

Framed photographs of her father, including one of him yelling and pointing in court, could be seen in the background. There are also pictures of Raghad's two brothers, Odai and Qusai, who were killed by American troops in July 2003.

Reconciled with Saddam

Saddam's letters from prison were also framed and hanging on a wall behind her.

Raghad said she could not predict how the trial would end.

"This is the most difficult question. The father is very, very dear, as much as children are dear, my father is dearer to me for sure. It's difficult to predict," she said.

Raghad and Rana were seen by some as victims of Saddam, who ordered their husbands killed in 1996 after the men defected to Jordan and disclosed evidence about Iraq's weapons programme. The daughters were estranged from their father for a time but were believed to have reconciled with Saddam in recent years.

Raghad complained that Iraq had been a respected country before the United States invasion.

"As a matter of fact, all Iraqis were safe and respected by all Arab countries before things went out of control, and it is getting worse every day now," she said.

Raghad expressed a desire to one day return home.

"If God has destined us to return with our pride, we will be the first to go back," she said.

- AP