The Wars in the Gulf

This camera was used to broadcast the trial of Saddam Hussein to the world. It was one of several cameras in the courtroom documenting the proceedings. Deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. troops on Dec. 13, 2003. The Coalition Provisional Authority, Iraq’s transitional government, established the Iraqi Special Tribunal (a five-judge panel) to conduct a trial of the captured leader. The first trial began in October of 2005. The Iraqi High Court filed charges for the 1982 killings of 150 Shias in the village of Dujail against Saddam and other high-level Baath Party officials. The proceedings were disrupted by the murders of three members of Saddam’s defense team and hunger strikes, as well as claims of mistreatment by the defendants. A second trial began in August of 2006. It focused on the killing of 100,000 Kurds in Northern Iraq in the 1980s, allegedly ordered by Saddam in Anfal. Despite the chaos and controversy surrounding the trials, Saddam Hussein was convicted for crimes against humanity for his role in the Dujail case. On Nov. 5, 2006, he was sentenced to death by hanging. His lawyers filed an appeal, but it was denied, and on Dec. 29, 2006, the sentence was carried out.