Written question asked by Tam Dalyell (Labour) on Thursday, 3 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 March 2005. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 March 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what access Saddam Hussein has had to the alleged evidence against him.

Answer: Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what access Saddam Hussein has had to the alleged evidence against him. [220816] Mr. Rammell: Saddam Hussein was arraigned before an Iraqi investigative judge on 1 July 2004 in relation to the following crimes: The 1990 invasion of Kuwait. The suppression of the 1991 uprisings. The ethnic cleansing campaign against Kurds from 1987 to 1988. The gassing of Kurdish villagers in Halabjah in 1988. The killing of political activists over a 30-year period. The killing of religious figures in 1974. The killing of thousands of the Kurdish Barzani clan in 1983. This procedure, which informs the accused of his rights, is the start of the investigative process under Iraqi law. Assuming an indictment is formally issued against Saddam Hussein, Iraqi law provides that the full disclosure of all evidence does not occur until his case is referred to a trial panel. This has yet to occur.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 432 c222W;432 c220W; 220816
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Access Disclosure of information Crimes against humanity Evidence Iraq Genocide Trials Hussein, Saddam
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk