DPA: On Cairo‘s streets, people react to Saddam verdict

By Pakinan Amer
First Published: November 5, 2006

Cairo (dpa) - While political leaders around the world had their
say Sunday about the death sentence against Saddam Hussein, an
initial sampling of sentiment on the so-called "Arab street" - at
least in Cairo - indicated that commonly people opposed the verdict.
"I am against death sentences, regardless of any details," said
Negad al-Borai, lawyer and human rights activist. "It‘s humiliating,
it‘s cruel and its effects can never be retracted.
"How could a democratic state begin its rule by bloodshed, I do
not understand," added al-Borai, who personally wrote against the
death penalty.
Firas al-Atraqchi, a Canadian freelance journalist of Iraqi
background called the verdict "utterly reprehensible."
"There have been 600,000 dead in Iraq in the past three years. If
they really want a fair trial to propel the country into an era of
freedom and civil liberties then they should have Maliki, Jaafari,
Bush, Cheney, Blair, Condi, Wolfowitz, Sadr, Sistani, and the rest of
the pro-war cadre standing trial next to Saddam," said al-Atraqchi.
"So they execute him, do they really think this will end the
valiant resistance?" he added.
On the streets of downtown Cairo, even though many were not aware
of the verdict, when informed they were shaken.
Mohammad Saad, who works in a garage, was "shocked" when he was
told of the verdict.
"I certainly did not see it coming," the young Egyptian said. "The
trial has been going on for so long. I did not think they would
really sentence him."
He added: "This is too harsh a sentence. He was a leader, a
president. It is enough that he is ousted. He should have been forced
out of the country, and guarded for the rest of his life, that‘s
all."
Amr Fawzi, a driver in his 30s, was equally upset.
"All Arab leaders and presidents used force at one point. Saddam
was not the only one. Look at what (Gamal) Abdel-Nasser did here in
Egypt," Fawzi said.
"Of course it is not fair," Fawzi replied immediately when asked
about the verdict. He added: "Those who tried him did so in order to
take power to themselves.
"It‘s the Shiites. They‘re ruining Iraq. They‘re behind every bad
thing," said Fawzi. He then gave a view similar to Saad‘s: "He was a
president. And then he was overthrown. That should have been the end of it."

Links: http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/article_1218567.php/On_Cairos_streets_people_react_to_Saddam_verdict
http://rawstory.com/news/2006/On_Cairo_s_streets_people_react_to__11052006.html