Madam, - The Holy See's Cardinal Renato Martino, head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, has described the death penalty imposed on Saddam Hussein as "unjustifiably vindictive". He has expressed his deep disappointment that Iraq has "not yet made the civilised choice of abolishing the death penalty".
When Saddam was captured three years ago, Cardinal Martino expressed the Vatican's displeasure at the broadcasting of television images of this bedraggled man undergoing a medical examination.
The cardinal said at the time: "What caused me pain was seeing this ruined man treated like a cow whose teeth are being examined. They could have spared us these pictures. If the West finds itself unable to demonstrate justice with humanity then it will be guilty of the most unforgivable hypocrisy.
"Saddam Hussein must be treated humanely. It is the least Saddam can expect from leaders who protested so strongly against the inhumanity of his regime, and who sent us all to war in the name of democracy, freedom and respect for the human person". The cardinal went on to say that the terrible war against Iraq was "useless and served no purpose".
The cardinal's and the Vatican's position is in stark contrast to the view of the US and British administration. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett appeared to welcome the court's decision. Tony Blair has refused to say whether he agrees that Saddam Hussein should be hanged.
Their position is that Iraq has a sovereign government. Has it really? There are over 200,000 foreign troops stationed there propping it up. Isn't it also very strange that the court reached its decision just days before the US mid-term congressional elections?
Amnesty International has said that the trial was not a fair one and the International Federation for Human Rights has denounced the death sentence, warning that it will generate even more violence and deepen the cycle of killing for revenge in Iraq. In Pakistan, the Mutahida Majlis-e- Amal, an opposition religious coalition, said American forces had caused more deaths in Iraq in the past three years than Saddam did during his 23-year rule, and went on to insist that President Bush should stand trial for war crimes.
I should also like to ask why Israel and its prime minister, Ehud Olmert, are not charged with war crimes for their barbaric butchery in Lebanon and Gaza? Bush and Blair continue to support Israel no matter what atrocities are perpetrated against the people of Palestine and Lebanon. It goes without saying that there can never be a lasting peace in the middle East until the Palestinians' human rights are respected.
It is vital that the entire civilised world condemns the death penalty; and any country which carries it out must be treated as utterly barbaric and a pariah. - Yours, etc,
ANTHONY REDMOND,
North Great George's Street,
Dublin 1.