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The World From Berlin

Saddam No "Cause Celebre" for Death Penalty Opponents

Executing Saddam Hussein will do nothing to end the chaos in Iraq, write German commentators. But it's a bad idea to cite his killing as an argument against the death penalty, says one paper. China is a more suitable example with its frequent executions. And what about Saudi Arabia and Iran, which kill people for being gay or committing adultery?

The execution of Saddam Hussein has reignited debate about the death penalty and whether his death will help or hurt Iraq. The filming of the despot's death, preceded by taunts from his executioners, highlights Iraq's plight, says one editorial. But his execution is a poor example for arguing against capital punishment, says another which makes the point that he got a pretty good trial compared with the hundreds executed for common crimes in other countries.

Left-wing Die Tageszeitung writes:

"The shaky footage of the execution of Saddam Hussein that has been broadcast on the Internet and on AlJazeera for the last two days says more about the tragedy in Iraq in less than three minutes than all the public statements about it. Seeing how the execution of the former dictator was staged as an act of revenge by radical Shiite militia with the endorsement of the government, how can anyone believe that the Iraqi government is interested in reconciliation and that the Iraqi state is anywhere near being on track towards true democratization?"

"Even if one were prepared to accept executions as part of the legal process, and even if one ignores all the shortcomings of Saddam's trial pointed out by human rights organizations, one has to recognize at this point that the killing of Saddam is at best a 'milestone' (in the words of George W. Bush) on the road to outright civil war."

"In no way is it a step towards greater justice. This is more than just a missed opportunity -- it's criminal."

"The butcher Saddam Hussein is dead. That used to be good news. Today it's only the harbinger of more killing."

The Financial Time Deutschland writes: "The particular indignation triggered by the case of the former Iraqi dictator is totally out of place. It's almost cynical when a person like Italian Foreign Ministers Massimo d'Alema, for example, now announces that his government will seize on the Baghdad execution to step up its opposition to capital punishment. One would be hard pushed to find a less appropriate 'cause celebre' in the battle against the death penalty than the case of Saddam Hussein."

There can be no question of a judicial error in Saddam's case, which removes one important argument against the death penalty, writes the paper. Also, it's plausible to argue that his death helps protect society because it averts the danger that fanatical supporters will try to release their leader through violence or blackmail.

"It's also misleading to talk about American 'victor's justice.' The US occupation authority suspended the death sentence in Iraq in 2003, it was later re-introduced by the Iraqi transitional government. It was the Iraqis themselves who wanted to conduct the trial of their former tyrant in their own country."

"Those who really want to put the death penalty on the global agenda shouldn't lament the fate of a Saddam Hussein but should instead read the statistics of Amnesty International which show that by far the most executions take place in China, where even ordinary crimes are punished by death.

"The death sentence is applied almost everywhere in the Islamic world, and cited as being demanded by religious faith. In Iran or Saudi Arabia 'crimes' such as homosexuality or adultery are punished by death. Compared with the jurisdiction in those countries the trial of Saddam Hussein was quite respectable, incidentally."

Conservative Die Welt writes: "An endless series of trials of the kind we have witnessed at the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague would have had a negative impact on a judicial system that is still developing its self-confidence. Carrying out the death sentence is a problem for all people who regard removing capital punishment as a success of civil society. This view doesn't appear to be held in Iraq. There was a big desire for a quick end. No revolt, no unrest, only Saddam's daughters referred their father as a 'martyr'."

Left-wing Berliner Zeitung writes:

"Even Saddam Hussein had a right to human dignity despite his crimes. Making a media show of his death deprived him of this right, and evidently did so deliberately. The aim was to show the whole world how his executioner put the noose around his neck and led him to the trap door."

"It's a bizarre notion that this inhuman spectacle should aid the devlopment of democracy and order in Iraq."

"The basis dilemma of Iraq remains that the colonial powers forced Sunnis, Kurds and Shiites into one state and thereby laid the foundation for continuing battles for power and money. George Bush's proclamation that Iraq is on the road to democracy sounds increasingly like wishful thinking rather than any real prospect. An execution carried out like this can hardly make a contribution to forming a fair political system. Indeed, the basic problems remain."

David Crossland, 12:30 CET