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Fighting for Justice in Saddam's Iraq: A Long and Arduous Journey

Eugene Scott

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Published in The Baghdad Lawyer: Fighting For Justice In Saddam S Iraq

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The fight for justice in Iraq faces a number of challenges, including:

The legacy of Saddam Hussein's regime: The Saddam Hussein regime was one of the most brutal in modern history. The regime used torture, arbitrary detention, and disappearances to suppress dissent. The regime also committed a number of atrocities, including the use of chemical weapons against the Kurdish population in Halabja in 1988.
The post-war chaos: The US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 plunged the country into chaos. The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA),which was established to administer Iraq after the invasion, was unable to maintain law and order. The resulting power vacuum led to the rise of sectarian violence and criminal gangs.
The weakness of the Iraqi government: The Iraqi government is weak and corrupt. It has been unable to provide security for its citizens or to uphold the rule of law. The government has also been unwilling to prosecute those responsible for the crimes committed during the Saddam Hussein era.
The lack of international support: The international community has not provided Iraq with the support it needs to rebuild its shattered justice system. The UN has been slow to establish a truth and reconciliation commission, and the US has failed to provide the Iraqi government with the financial and technical assistance it needs to prosecute those responsible for the crimes committed during the Saddam Hussein era.

The fight for justice in Iraq is a long and arduous one. However, the work of human rights activists like Yanar Mohammed and Ali Majeed is making a difference. Their efforts are helping to ensure that the victims of Saddam Hussein's regime are not forgotten and that those responsible for their deaths are held accountable.

The international community must do more to support the fight for justice in Iraq. The UN should establish a truth and reconciliation commission, and the US should provide the Iraqi government with the financial and technical assistance it needs to prosecute those responsible for the crimes committed during the Saddam Hussein era.