The following is a transcript of the first
half of Saddam Hussein's first appearance on Thursday
before a special Iraqi tribunal set up by the dissolved
US-led occupation authority
Judge addressing court reporter: Write
down Saddam Hussein and full name.
Judge addressing Saddam: Your name please?
Saddam: Saddam Hussein the president of
the Republic of Iraq
Judge: Your full name?
Saddam: Saddam Hussein al Majid.
Judge repeats: Saddam Hussein al Majid.
Saddam: The president of the Republic
of Iraq.
Judge: Your age?
Saddam: My age?
Judge addressing the court reporter: Born
in 1937 and job of former Iraqi president.
Saddam cuts in: Still (president)
Judge addressing reporter: ...the head
of the former Baath party and the commander of the former
Iraqi armed forces...open parenthesis and...not like this...open
parenthesis...put former...
Judge addressing Saddam: Your place of
residence in Iraq at the time?
Saddam: Every Iraqi home is my residence.
Judge: Your mother's name?
Silence
Judge repeats: Your mother's name?
Saddam: Sabha Tulfah
Judge: Your father's name?
Saddam: ....
Judge addressing reporter: Write down
like this, I have confirmed my identity to the investigating
judge of the court.
Saddam: I have a question please.
Judge: Go ahead.
Saddam: You must introduce yourself to
me.
Judge: Yes, I will introduce myself now.
Saddam: Ok fine, in order for me to introduce
myself to you.
Judge: Mr. Saddam, I am the investigating
judge of the central Iraqi court.
Saddam: I beg your pardon?
Judge: I am the investigating judge of
the central Iraqi court.
Saddam: Could we please go through this
bit by bit.
Judge: Yes.
Saddam: The investigating judge...investigating...
Judge: Of the central Iraqi court.
Saddam: It was created according to what
decree?
Judge: It was created by a decision...the
coalition authorities took this decision.
Saddam: Coalition authorities?
Judge: Yes.
Saddam: This means then that you are an
Iraqi representing the forces occupying your country.
Judge: I am an Iraqi representing Iraq
Saddam: But you are...
Judge: I was appointed according to a
presidential decree issued under the previous regime.
Saddam: Ok, we are in agreement.
Judge: And I am still performing my duties.
Saddam: You see I want, I want, through
this exercise to make sure that every Iraqi respects the
Iraqi justice system.
Judge: Exactly.
Saddam: And for this reason, the Iraqi
justice system was created from the start as a justice
system that represents with dignity the true will of the
people.
Judge: God willing.
Saddam: Ok, you are in agreement with
me.
Judge: God willing.
Saddam: So you should not work according
to a decision issued by forces you call the coalition
authorities, these are forces of invasion.
Judge: First thing, I would like to explain
to you a very important point. I was a judge in the previous
regime.
Saddam: I respect judges and you know
that.
Judge: I am explaining to you the judicial
process... You are as an Iraqi citizen and like any Iraqi
citizen when he is accused of a charge he has to appear
before the justice system.
If this charge is confirmed by preponderance
of the evidence, then he is charged, but if not then he
is released.
The judicial process is a matter of rights
and balancing. If there is evidence the defendant is charged
if there is no evidence then he is released and up to
this point you are a defendant in front of the Iraqi justice
system.
Saddam: Excuse me please.
Judge: Go ahead please.
Saddam: I do not want to complicate matters.
Judge: Not at all.
Saddam: You are a judge?
Judge: Yes.
Saddam: And the most important thing for
judges is to respect the rule of law.
Judge: Of course.
Saddam: And to rule in the name of the
law.
judge: And justice.
Saddam: Are we in accordance?
Judge: Yes of course.
