Iran finalizes genocide, war crimes charges against Saddam News
Iran finalizes genocide, war crimes charges against Saddam

[JURIST] Iran's judiciary has finalized a list of charges against ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein [JURIST news archive], which include charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, violations of international law, and using prohibited chemical weapons. These charges stem from the 1980-1988 war fought between Iraq and Iran, during which Iraq attempted to grab land in Iran's oil-rich southwest region. Three million died during the war, mostly Iranians, and the Iraqis used nerve gas and other chemical weapons repeatedly. Iran has complained about the charges brought in Iraq against Hussein, saying they are insufficient. Hussein goes on trial next week for the 1982 massacre at Dujail [NPR audio report] and, if convicted, could be executed [JURIST report]. Iran also expressed their wishes that Hussein's trial be held at an international court instead of the Iraqi Special Tribunal [official website]. Earlier this year, Iran called for the IST to charge Hussein [JURIST report] in connection with the Iran war and last month announced plans to indict Hussein [JURIST report]. Kuwait has also prepared an indictment [JURIST report] for crimes committed during the 1990-1991 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and is seeking the death penalty. AFP has more. The Tehran Times has local coverage.

THIS DAY @ LAW

UN General Assembly approves Palestine partition plan

The UN General Assembly approved UN Resolution Resolution 181 (II) on November 29, 1947, recommending that the British Mandate for Palestine be split into a Jewish state, an Arab state, and an international zone for Jerusalem. The vote in the assembly was 33 for to 13 against, with 10 abstentions. The resolution sparked a war between Palestinian Arabs and Jews in 1947 and a wider war after Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon invaded the new State of Israel in 1948. Read Resolution 181 (II).

UN divided Palestine between Arabs and Jews

On November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly voted to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab territories, leading to the establishment of a Jewish state the following year. Read UN General Assembly Resolution 181.

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