The Empire 113

Reuters bericht:

'Arab haj pilgrims outraged at Saddam execution.

MECCA, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Arab pilgrims in Mecca expressed
outrage on Saturday that Iraqi authorities had chosen to execute
former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on a major religious holiday,
saying it was an insult to Muslims.

Sunni Arabs at the haj were shocked at Saddam's hanging which
followed his conviction for crimes against humanity against Iraqi
Shi'ites.

"His execution on the day of Eid ... is an insult to all Muslims,"
said Jordanian pilgrim Nidal Mohammad Salah. "What happened is not
good because as a head of state, he should not be executed."

The Eid al-Adha, or Feast of the Sacrifice, marks biblical patriarch
Abraham's willingness to kill his son for God. Muslim countries often
pardon criminals to mark the feast, and prisoners are rarely executed
at that time.

The death could harden hatred for Shi'ite Muslims in Saudi Arabia, a
bastion of Sunni Islam whose Islamic orthodoxy -- known as Wahhabism
-- regards Shi'ites as virtual heretics.

"This timing was chosen to turn our joy during Eid to sadness. I
don't say this for grief over Saddam ... but we must ready ourselves
for a new enemy from the East," a user on an Islamist Web site said,
referring to Shi'ites in Iran.

Saddam, a Sunni, was admired by many Arabs for standing up to the
United States. Haj authorities fear his death could stoke tensions
between Sunni and Shi'ite pilgrims.

Eid falls during the 5-day haj, when more than 2 million Muslims from
around the world follow ancient rites at the Islamic Muslim holy city
of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

"I don't want to believe it. Saddam cannot die. Is this the good news
we get on our Eid?" said Saudi Nawaf al-Harbi.

But many Shi'ites regard Saddam's death as a gift from God.

"Congratulations, this is like two Eids! I hope God will not have
mercy on him," Iraqi Nadir Abdullah said amid a group of jubilant
pilgrims.

PREOCCUPIED

Security was already heightened for this haj season because of
sectarian strife between Sunnis and Shi'ites in Iraq and elsewhere in
the region.

Haj pilgrims dress in simple white garments that can disguise
differences of sect and nationality. Many come from outside the
Middle East and on Saturday most were preoccupied with the next stage
of the rites, the symbolic stoning of the devil at the Jamarat Bridge.

But many felt Saddam's execution would only worsen sectarian violence
in Iraq.

"This is unbelievable. Things will not improve in Iraq now that
Saddam is dead," said a Syrian pilgrim, Abu Mostafa. "There will be
more violence and more Arab anger towards the West."

For Iraqi Kurds like Aladdin Suleiman Mohammad, the execution was a
"fair decision" regardless of timing, though it dashed hopes of
justice for crimes against Kurds.

Saddam's second trial on charges of war crimes against Iraqi Kurds in
what is known as the "Anfal" or "Spoils of War" campaign, had been
due to resume next month.

But many Arabs said if anyone should be put on trial it was the
Shi'ite-led Iraqi government that backed the U.S. invasion of Iraq in
2003, which overthrew Saddam.

"They are American collaborators, those in Iraq. They should be
executed, not Saddam Hussein." said Mohammad Mousa, on haj from
Lebanon. "Saddam Hussein is the most honourable of all of them. He is
the most honourable Arab. They will go to hell, he will go to heaven."'

De International Herald Tribune:

'Muslims criticize timing of execution.

Muslim leaders around the world espressed dismay Saturday that Saddam Hussein was executed at the time of Id al-Adha, an important holiday considered a time of forgiveness and compassion.
Muslim countries often pardon criminals to mark the occasion, and prisoners are rarely executed at that time.
The most important date in the Islamic calendar, Id al-Adha, or Feast of the Sacrifice, honors the biblical patriarch Abraham's willingness to kill his son Isaac for God before God decided to spare Isaac's life.
Id al-Adha also falls during the five- day hajj, the pilgrimage when more than two million Muslims from around the world follow ancient rites at the Islamic holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis were among those criticizing the holding of the execution during Id al-Adha.
"There is a feeling of surprise and disapproval that the verdict has been applied during the holy months and the first days of Id al-Adha," a presenter on the official Al Ikhbariya TV said after programming was broken to read a statement.
"Leaders of Islamic countries should show respect for this blessed occasion," said the statement, which was attributed to the political analyst of the official press agency SPA.
In Indonesia, the world's most populous Islamic nation, the government said it respected the sentence and trial.
"This execution is not surprising as a legal process has been conducted, despite its imperfection, and Saddam Hussein has been given a chance to defend himself," said Desra Percaya, an Indonesian government spokesman. "Indonesia hopes the execution doesn't separate conflicting parties further in the efforts to realize a national reconciliation, which is a requirement for the return of Iraq's sovereignty."
Masdar Mas'udi, a co-chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's biggest Islamic organization, said the execution was "right by law, but it is not wise."
"People can already predict what the reactions of Saddam's supporters will be," Masdar Mas'udi said. "There may be more bloodshed."'

Lees verder: http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/30/news/web.1230feast.php