In Iraq, expeditious justice reigns in terrorist cases
A courtroom at the main Baghdad Court of Appeal, that of Karkh, here on May 29, 2019, where many jihadists, including French people, were tried.
© AFP - SABAH ARAR
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
While the trial of the attacks of November 13, 2015 opens on Wednesday September 8 in Paris, the question of the defense of alleged jihadists arises.
In Iraq, a country scarred by years of terrorism, notably by the Islamic State group, lawyers often refuse to defend them for fear of attacks.
Those officially appointed neglect the case, contributing to expeditious justice.
Advertising
Read more
With our correspondent in Baghdad,
Lucie Wassermann
In Alaa Shoon's office, files pile up by the dozen.
This Iraqi lawyer specializes
in terrorist cases
, frequent in the country.
He defends victims, but also sometimes
jihadists.
A job that can be dangerous, he says:
There have already been several lawyers who have been attacked for defending jihadists: people have burned their cars, destroyed their offices, or even shot them.
Many then refuse to defend these jihadists.
And court-appointed lawyers often neglect their defense for financial reasons.
“
He's going to be paid $ 20 or $ 30 by the court to do this job.
So obviously his motivation will not be the same
, explains Alaa Shoon
.
He's not really going to look at the evidence, or delve into the case, or even argue with the witnesses.
"
Result: the procedure takes only a few months and the investigative work is often hasty in Iraq.
This deprives not only the accused of a right to defense, but also the victims of access to the truth and fair justice.
►
Also to listen:
Podcasts Shock waves: After the attack (4/6): “Trials for the victims?”
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Iraq
Trial 13-November
Justice
Terrorism
France