(1 Jul 2004)
VIDEO VETTED BY US MILITARY
PLEASE NOTE: NO FACES FROM THE COURTROOM INTERIORS ARE TO BE USED ON AIR
All dialogue in Arabic - approximate translation
Saddam Hussein sits down
Saddam Hussein: "Saddam Hussein Al-Majeed, President of the Republic of Iraq"
Judge tells stenographer: "Former President of Iraq"
SH: "I'm still (president of Iraq)"
Saddam Hussein wipes his face
Zoom out to show judge from behind and Saddam Hussein
Judge instructs stenographer to write "Saddam Hussein was the former commander of the Iraqi Armed Forces.
Judge: "Your domicile. "
SH: "Every house in Iraq"
Judge: "Your mother?"
SH: "Sabhah Telfah... May I ask a question? You should introduce yourself!"
Judge: "I am going to introduce myself - I am the judge of the Iraqi Central Court."
SH: "Pardon?"
Judge: "Judge of the investigation of the Iraqi Central Court."
SH: "By which decision was it formed?"
Judge: "I am an Iraqi and I was appointed in accordance with a Republican decree under the former regime and I am still working as a judge."
SH: "I want each Iraqi to respect the Iraqi judiciary, so the Iraqi Judiciary was formed as from the very beginning since the judiciary represents the will of the Iraqi people."
Judge: "By the will of God."
SH: "So you shouldn't work according to a decision made by invading troops which you name coalition forces."
Judge: "I would like to point out to you an important point. I was a judge in the former regime."
SH: "I respect judges and you know that."
Judge: "We all know that you respect the judiciary process and you are as an ordinary citizen when you are accused you will appear in court."
SH: "I have the honour of being an Iraqi citizen."
Judge: "This is an accusation that it was proved the citizen is convicted and if it is not he will be released."
SH: "So when you say that I am the president of Iraq this doesn't mean that I adhere to the occupation but to confirm to the Iraqi people that I respect their will as they elected me and secondly you summoned me to present charges against me."
Judge: "To inform you of the crimes."
SH: "You see you called them crimes."
Judge: "Please. The charges will come when we finish the investigation. The judge decides whether there is evidence, the accused referred to the court."
SH: "I'd like to understand the legal side in this. Any accused who appears before the court, there should be an investigation beforehand."
Judge: "This is not a trial. It is an investigation."
SH: "It is an investigation. So we should put in our mind that the judge will prosecute in the name of the people. I pay no heed, whether you judge me or not. This is something not important for me. It is important for you as a judge. So don't mention a term called occupation forces, a matter that was rejected by your people and disgraceful."
Judge: "In the name of the people of Iraq."
SH: "Yes that is right. You should judge and prosecute in the name of the Iraqi people."
Cutaway side view of Judge
Saddam Hussein: ''The occupation of Kuwait, the 7th charge, regrettably that this has been aroused by an Iraqi. …I understand…What law you are talking about? A law attempts to try Saddam Hussein because he stood in the face of Kuwaitis who said that they were going to reduce Iraqi ladies to sell themselves for ten dinars in the street. And we fought a battle for the honour of the Iraqis and to defend them and revive the historic rights and fight those those dogs.(Kuwaitis).''
Wide of Saddam Hussein with judge facing him (inaudible)
Saddam Hussein: "Please allow me not to sign until the lawyers are present.''
#Saddam #Hussein #court
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