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Following are excerpts from an address by Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, which aired on Iranian TV Channel 1 on January 4, 2007.
Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel: The most important news item in recent days was the execution of Saddam. Saddam was hanged on the gallows of punishment, and all those who witnessed his death confirmed, with their hearts and their tongues, that the arm of divine retribution had reached him and throttled him, and that the anguish of the oppressed has finally caught up with him. We congratulate the two peoples of Iran and Iraq on the execution of this tyrannical criminal. We congratulate the Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds of Iraq and Iran, the martyrs' families, those ready to sacrifice themselves, and the disabled war veterans.
But even though Saddam's execution was appropriate and justified, his trial was flawed and should be criticized. We may say that Saddam stood trial in order not to stand trial, and so that his accomplices and masters would not stand trial.
This man caused the deaths of millions from among the Iranian and Iraqi peoples. He tormented so many people. He invaded Kuwait, and destroyed Halabcha with a chemical bombardment. But none of these things was mentioned in his trial.
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Even though the case of Saddam's life was closed with his just and fitting execution – as well it should – history will not close the case of the crimes of Saddam, his accomplices, and his masters – especially America and other governments that encouraged him to go to war, and placed weapons at his disposal. The case of Saddam's crimes will be preserved for posterity. As has been said: "Even though the arrow leaves the bow, the wise man considers the archer [responsible] for the arrow." True, they have executed the bow, but the archer remains unscathed.
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