The White House, President George W. Bush Click to print this document

For Immediate Release
December 11, 2003

Global Message

From the Coalition Provisional Authority

The Iraqi Governing Council created the Iraqi Special Tribunal on December 10.

Council members were advised by the Coalition Provisional Authority and other international law experts who have worked with tribunals established to deal with atrocities committed in the former Yugoslavia, East Timor and Sierra Leone.

The all-Iraqi tribunal is based in Baghdad and has jurisdiction over Iraqi nationals and residents of Iraq. It will handle the following crimes, committed between July 17, 1968 and May 1, 2003:

Defendants will:

Penalties will be prescribed by Iraqi law and free legal assistance will be available for defendants who are unable to pay.

The tribunal will be funded by the Iraqi government's regular budget, with an additional $75 million from the U.S. government.


Return to this article at:
/news/releases/2003/12/20031211.html

Click to print this document