Strasbourge 5 July 2006: Tariq Aziz's application to the European Court of Human Rights under emergency procedures known as Rule 39 which permits the Court to examine cases on an emergency basis moves forward despite United States and United Kingdom forces preventing Avocat Izzat from Iraq to visit Tariq Aziz. Tariq Aziz’s lawyer Giovanni Di Stefano stated: "I have written to the ECHR stating that if the Respondent States of United Kingdom and Italy cannot even abide by a simple rule of allowing Mr Aziz lawyer of record in Iraq access to obtain an authority for proceedings in the European Court then there is no chance of ever holding a fair trial."
Mr Di Stefano said: "Avocat Izzat has stated that on the 4th July 2006 when he tried to attend Tariq Aziz the US/UK Military at the Camp refused him entry as there were control problems with the detainees. Today the 5th July 2006 he was refused entry again. The US/UK knows a form of authority is required and they wish to stop any form of internationally recognised legal court hearing the case of Mr Aziz. We have seen President Bush totally ignore the ruling of his own Supreme Court re Guantanamo Bay so what does he care about Iraq? As a result the detainees and Mr Aziz will start a hunger strike. Frankly, it’s a sad day for international jurisprudence."
The ECHR will however hear the application and rule shortly.
Download ECHR letter.
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