.Arab haj pilgrims outraged at Saddam execution
MECCA, Saudi Arabia, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Pilgrims in Mecca expressed outrage on Saturday that Iraqi authorities had chosen to execute former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on a major religious holiday, saying it was an insult to Muslims.
Sunni Arabs at the haj were shocked at Saddam's death which followed his conviction for crimes against humanity against Iraqi Shi'ites.
Nawaf al-Harbi, a Saudi national speaking outside the Grand Mosque in Mecca, said Saddam's hanging during the Eid al-Adha, or Feast of the Sacrifice, was an insult to Muslims.
"I don't want to believe it. Saddam cannot die. Is this the good news we get on our Eid?" he said.
"His execution on the day of Eid ... is an insult to all Muslims," added Jordanian pilgrim Nidal Mohammad Salah.
An execution at the start of Eid is highly symbolic. The feast marks the sacrifice the prophet Abraham was prepared to make when God ordered him to kill his son and many Shi'ites could regard Saddam's death as a gift from God. Such symbolism could further anger Sunnis, resentful of new Shi'ite power in Iraq.
Security was already heightened for this haj season because of sectarian strife between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims in Iraq and elsewhere in the region.
Saddam, a Sunni, was admired by many Arabs for standing up to the United States and haj authorities fear his death could stoke tensions between Sunni and Shi'ite pilgrims.
Eid falls during the 5-day haj, when more than 2 million Muslims from around the world follow ancient rites at the Islamic holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
"What happened is not good because as a head of state, he should not be executed," Salah said.
Others felt Saddam's execution would only worsen sectarian violence in Iraq.
"This is unbelievable. Things will not improve in Iraq now that Saddam is dead," said a Syrian pilgrim, Abu Mostafa. "There will be more violence and more Arab anger towards the West."
PREOCCUPIED
Haj pilgrims dress in simple white garments that can disguise differences of sect and nationality. Many come from outside the Middle East and on Saturday most were preoccupied with the next stage of the rites, the symbolic stoning of the devil at the Jamarat Bridge.
For Iraqi Kurds like Aladdin Suleiman Mohammad, the execution was a "fair decision" regardless of timing, though it dashed hopes of justice for crimes against Kurds.
Saddam's second trial on charges of war crimes against Iraqi Kurds in what is known as the "Anfal" or "Spoils of War" campaign, had been due to resume next month.
But many Arabs said if anyone should be put on trial it was the Shi'ite-led Iraqi government that backed the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, which overthrew Saddam.
"They are American collaborators, those in Iraq. They should be executed, not Saddam Hussein." said Mohammad Mousa, on haj from Lebanon. "Saddam Hussein is the most honourable of all of them. He is the most honourable Arab. They will go to hell, he will go to heaven."
Reuters
Sunni Arabs at the haj were shocked at Saddam's death which followed his conviction for crimes against humanity against Iraqi Shi'ites.
Nawaf al-Harbi, a Saudi national speaking outside the Grand Mosque in Mecca, said Saddam's hanging during the Eid al-Adha, or Feast of the Sacrifice, was an insult to Muslims.
"I don't want to believe it. Saddam cannot die. Is this the good news we get on our Eid?" he said.
"His execution on the day of Eid ... is an insult to all Muslims," added Jordanian pilgrim Nidal Mohammad Salah.
An execution at the start of Eid is highly symbolic. The feast marks the sacrifice the prophet Abraham was prepared to make when God ordered him to kill his son and many Shi'ites could regard Saddam's death as a gift from God. Such symbolism could further anger Sunnis, resentful of new Shi'ite power in Iraq.
Security was already heightened for this haj season because of sectarian strife between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims in Iraq and elsewhere in the region.
Saddam, a Sunni, was admired by many Arabs for standing up to the United States and haj authorities fear his death could stoke tensions between Sunni and Shi'ite pilgrims.
Eid falls during the 5-day haj, when more than 2 million Muslims from around the world follow ancient rites at the Islamic holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
"What happened is not good because as a head of state, he should not be executed," Salah said.
Others felt Saddam's execution would only worsen sectarian violence in Iraq.
"This is unbelievable. Things will not improve in Iraq now that Saddam is dead," said a Syrian pilgrim, Abu Mostafa. "There will be more violence and more Arab anger towards the West."
PREOCCUPIED
Haj pilgrims dress in simple white garments that can disguise differences of sect and nationality. Many come from outside the Middle East and on Saturday most were preoccupied with the next stage of the rites, the symbolic stoning of the devil at the Jamarat Bridge.
For Iraqi Kurds like Aladdin Suleiman Mohammad, the execution was a "fair decision" regardless of timing, though it dashed hopes of justice for crimes against Kurds.
Saddam's second trial on charges of war crimes against Iraqi Kurds in what is known as the "Anfal" or "Spoils of War" campaign, had been due to resume next month.
But many Arabs said if anyone should be put on trial it was the Shi'ite-led Iraqi government that backed the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, which overthrew Saddam.
"They are American collaborators, those in Iraq. They should be executed, not Saddam Hussein." said Mohammad Mousa, on haj from Lebanon. "Saddam Hussein is the most honourable of all of them. He is the most honourable Arab. They will go to hell, he will go to heaven."
Reuters
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