Judge Assigned to Saddam Trial Assassinated in Iraq

An Iraqi Interior Minister spokesperson said that Mahmoud had worked for the special court and had dealt with the cases against Saddam Hussein.

The Reuters news agency reported that the criminal court judge was assassinated yesterday with his brother in front of his house in Bagdat (Baghdad) as a result of an armed attack. The second victim in the attack is now thought not to be Mahmoud’s brother, but his son, who is also a lawyer. Details have yet to be clarified.

The special court was established in December of 2003 to judge Hussein and the former members of his regime for crimes committed during the Baath party’s 30-year term in power, as well as for genocide, war and humanitarian crimes. Fifty judges have been assigned to the special court for the trial process.