On May 15, 2006, Saddam Hussein was formally charged with crimes against humanity in connection with a 1982 crackdown in the town of Dujail following an assassination attempt on the former president. Although Saddam's trial began in October 2005, under Iraqi criminal law defendants are not officially charged until after the prosecution has presented its evidence. Following the presentation of the prosecution's case, presiding Judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman charged Saddam with the deaths of nine villagers, torture of women and children, the razing of farmlands, and the wrongful arrest of almost 400 Dujail residents. Saddam was eventually found guilty and sentenced to death. He was executed on December 29, 2006.

Saddam Hussein

Learn more about Saddam Hussein and the controversy surrounding his trial from the JURIST news archive.

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