The Presiding Judge of the First Trials Chamber

Al-basrah.net

The Defense Committee for President Saddam Hussein and Mr.Taha Yassin Ramadan, Mr.Barazan Ibrahim Hasan and Mr.Awwad Hamad Al-Bandar, would like to inform you that it has been decided to suspend its attendance in the Court's session as per July 10th, 2006 due to the violations to the rights of defense which amounted to the assassination of some defense lawyers. Those assassinations were instigated by various parties. Instigations to kill other lawyers are still going on in public. Moreover, the defense lawyers are prohibited from doing their best to do their sacred duty by presenting whatever legal arguments that they deem appropriate to defend their clients. We will not put an end to this suspension until the following demands are fulfilled: 1- To provide real and actual security for the defense lawyers and their families. Such protection should be provided by the American authorities. 2- To conduct significant investigations in the assassinations of martyr Khamis Obeidi and the other lawyers who were assassinated or wounded. Any possible results of such investigations should be made public...

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