Russian Muslims demand revoking Saddam's death sentence

Moscow, Nov 10 (UNI) The Russian Central Muslim Spiritual Council has condemned the death sentence for Saddam Hussein, and has demanded the setting up of a "Supreme Islamic Tribunal" to try the deposed Iraqi President.

"The 'illegal' death sentence has become a disgraceful act of cruelty, heartlessness and judicial impotence. There is no justification for it, nor can there be any, under Sharia, international or secular law," the Council said in a statement to the Iraqi leadership and heads of Iraqi Islamic organisations, which was signed by Council chairman Talgat Tadjuddin.

Iraq "has been seized by the international coalition without sanction from the United Nations, is under the sway of anarchy and brazen, unscrupulous international terrorism which provides voluntary or involuntary support for the occupation of the country," the statement said.

Russia, an observer at the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), was willing to help rehabilitate Iraq and give the Iraqis "all possible humanitarian aid," it stated.

"Cases of this kind must be placed under the jurisdiction of an ad hoc "Supreme Islamic Tribunal" which must be set up at the OIC, the statement futher added.

UNI XC PB ND1722