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Killing of Iraq Kurds Ruled A Genocide
A court in The Hague has ruled that the killing of thousands of Kurds in Iraq in the 1980s was an act of genocide.
The ruling came in the case of Dutch trader Frans van Anraat, who was given a 15-year sentence for selling chemicals to Saddam Hussein’s regime.
He was found guilty of complicity in war crimes over a 1988 chemical attack that killed more than 5,000 people, but acquitted of genocide charges.
Halabja was one of the worst atrocities of Saddam's regime
It is the first trial to deal with war crimes against Kurds in Iraq and Iran.
Dozens of ethnic Kurds gathered in the packed courtroom to hear the verdict.
“The court has no other conclusion than that these attacks were committed with the intent to destroy the Kurdish population of Iraq”
Court ruling
“The court thinks and considers legally and convincingly proven that the Kurdish population meets requirement under Genocide Conventions as an ethnic group,” the ruling said.
The chemicals traded to Iraq did also originate in the United States.
«« click on pic for an “Embracing Saddam Hussein” »»
More below the fold »»
Dutch double agent jailed: sold US poison gas chemicals to Iraq
- While the US, Interpol and the Dutch police force were trying to find him, the Dutch secret service AIVD was hiding van Anraat in one of their ‘safe houses’. And now he anyhow got a 15 years jail term? Why did they sacrifice him? Isn’t that strange?
THE HAGUE (Radio Liberty Europe) Dec. 23 — A Dutch court ruled today that the killing of thousands of Kurds in Iraq in 1988 was an act of genocide. The ruling came as part of a verdict in the case of Dutch chemicals merchant Frans van Anraat.
Van Anraat was sentenced to 15 years in prison today after the court found him guilty of complicity in war crimes for selling more than 1,000 tons of chemicals to Iraq used to carry out lethal gas attacks against Kurdish villages. He was acquitted of genocide charges.
Van Anraat maintained he was unaware the material would be used in chemical warfare.
It is the first court case to deal with the attacks against the Kurds.
Victims of Hussein-era attacks against Kurds being prepared for reburial in October
(AFP)
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
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Thu Dec 1st, 2005 at 06:16:24 AM PST
Wow.
Will this have any ripples to other parties that were involved in those times?
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Monument in Halabja, Iraq, to the victims ofthe gas attack against the Kurdish population
RNW - Dutch Radio≈ Cross-posted from RubDMC’s diary —
Iraq War Grief Daily Witness (photo) Day 207 ≈
Dutch Justice Not Perfect, But …
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
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Do you think this president will send a message to thsi government of ours? I sure hope so…..Hi Oui. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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Criminal Van Anraat had cooperated with the Dutch secret service AIVD in recent months before his arrest a year ago. In fact, the Dutch AIVD felt uneasy about possible U.S. extraordinary rendition to abduct the chemical merchant and kept him in a safe house. The other arm of Dutch government, the Justice Department, was hunting for Van Anraat in order to put him under arrest for prosecution. Justice in the end caught up with him in the AIVD safe house!
Iraqi Kurds celebrated the verdictoutside the court building in The Hague
The Dutch Cabinet is still undecided to deploy extra troops to NATO forces in Afghanistan, due to poor showing of Condoleeza Rice on her visit to Angela Merkel in Germany and NATO HQ.
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
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(((Hugs))) Brenda with appreciation for your unrelenting support and your motivation to all frogs here @BooMan’s Place.
Have a Joyous and Inspiring Christmas day with all your loved ones nearby. We need to come together in our own circle of friends and family, to find the strength and faith to attack all evil in a very important NEW YEAR 2006!
Each and every candle I will light during the holidays, will be a reminder of all friends and other frogs here in the pond.
PEACE be to all!
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
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Thank you, Oui. I appreciate the kind words. To you, as well, the very best of the upcoming new year. I hope and pray for all that we do have a wonderful and peaceful new year to celebrate together. Thank you for all the great work you do to keep the information coming to our fingertips. It really helps me to stay on top of things that might otherwise get lost in the shuffle.
Please, stay well and safe. Toasting to you………..
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MADRID (Reuters) Jan. 10 — Spain arrested 17 people today, suspected of helping to recruit Islamist militants to carry out attacks in Iraq, Spanish state radio reported.
The early morning arrests were carried out in the Madrid and Barcelona areas and in the Basque region, the radio said.
No officials were immediately available for comment on the report. A spokesman for the Civil Guard confirmed that an operation was going on, but would not give details.
The radio said those arrested included the imam of a mosque and that one suspect might be linked to an attack on an Italian military police base in southern Iraq.
Suicide bombers devastated the Italian base in November 2003, killing 18 Italians and nine Iraqis.
Italy halts in grief for policemen and soldiers killed by suicide blast in Nasiriya, Iraq - BBC News PhotoIn The Netherlands alone ::
● Cause: US-UK Invasion of Iraq Blowback ● more specifics —
● Theo van Gogh Murder ● Hofstad Group ● Chechnya ● Kashmir ● Iraq Fallujah bomb ● Indonesia
● UK Faces Terror Risk Because of US Alliance ¶ Chatham House Report
● Belgian Woman Suicide Bomber in Iraq
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
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