Issues in human rights [Book review]

Abstract

The book entitled Issues in Human Rights by Azizur Rahman Chowdhury; Md. Jahid Hossain Bhuiyan and Shawkat Alam contains original contributions in different aspects of human rights. It is the outcome of academic collaborations of 20 academics of Indian jurisdiction. The right to fair trial in criminal proceedings is one of the basic human rights. In the first article of the book entitled "The Significance of Fair Trial under Human Rights Law in Matters of Criminal Justice; A Case Study of the Trial of Former Iraqi Leader, Mr. Saddam Hussein", the author notes that the Iraq War has raised the question of whether it was proper for the new Government in Iraq to try the former Head of State, Mr. Saddam Hussein, on certain charges. The author also notes that in case of Saddam Hussein starting from the very first step of the trial to the execution at every step and every stage the established norms of fairness and transparency was the biggest casualty. She reaches into the conclusion that Saddam Hussein was denied the right to fair trial and the entire trial had been concluded in a record span of condensed time which is contrary to the age-old legal maxim that justice hurried is justice buried. [excerpt]