HRW's opinion of Saddam trial

BBC News reported The trial of Saddam Hussein was so flawed that its verdict is unsound, the advocacy group Human Rights Watch says.

What sort of trial did they want? Do they disagree with the trial, or the verdict? Do they oppose hanging him? While it might be better to do unto him as he did unto others, that would be much more cruel and unusual.

HRW said "serious administrative, procedural and substantive legal defects" meant the 5 November trial for crimes against humanity was not fair. The Iraqi government has dismissed the report, telling the BBC that the trial was both "just and fair". The ex-Iraqi leader has two weeks to lodge an appeal but his lawyer claims he has been blocked from doing so.

The appeal is automatic under Iraqi law.