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Baghdad: The trial of former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz has started in Baghdad. The case is over the execution of more than 40 Iraqi merchants accused of price gouging in 1992 when Iraq was under a severe economic blockade.
However, many Iraqis say the trial is continuing revenge for all those from Saddam's era.
Sabbar Al Douri, an employee at the former ministry of information during Saddam's era, told Gulf News: "Tariq Aziz's trail is a continuation of the revenge policy which is run by the Shiite coalition of Abdul Aziz Al Hakim. I believe that the coalition wants revenge from Aziz because most of the merchants were Shiites."
Prominent
Aziz, 72, was one of the most prominent figures of the former regime.
Political researcher Huda Al Alousi told Gulf News: "I believe the trial is a countermeasure against Aziz who refused to testify against Saddam Hussain in the Al Anfal and Al Dujail cases."
Tariq Aziz is the only Christian accused, therefore his trail is considered a blow to the Iraqi Christian Church's efforts to release him.
Yousuf Kanna, a Christian political activist in Baghdad, told Gulf News: "Tariq Aziz surrendered himself to the American forces in 2003.
"I think that the Americans abandoned him under pressure by some hardline parties in the Iraqi government who wanted to take revenge for him being one of the closest officials to Saddam Hussain." It is likely that the trial will be headed by the hardline Kurdish judge Rauof Abdul Rahman who issued the death sentence against Saddam Hussain in the Al Dujail case.
Dhia Al Hamadani, a former member of the dissolved Baath party, told Gulf News: "The trial will be difficult and strict because it will be headed by the Kurdish judge Abdul Rahman. I am confident the verdicts will be extremely harsh."
Hundreds of Iraqi Christians in some Baghdad neighbourhoods such as Camp Sara, Al Gadeer and Zayouna, are upset because of the start of the trial. Aziz was known as a strong defender of Christians rights when he was a member of the former Revolution Command Council.
Other defendants in the case include Saddam's half brothers Watban Ebrahim Al Hassan, interior minister when the executions took place, and Sabaawi Ebrahim Al Hassan, a former top security official, court spokes-man Aref Shaheen said.
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