Why was Saddam executed on one of the holiest days of the Muslim calendar ?

Question

"The Muslim religious holiday Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, is meant to commemorate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son on God's orders.

But now the holiday could also be associated with something else: the execution of ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein."

Hanging on a Muslim holiday is criticized
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-eid30dec30,1,7585181.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=1&cset=true

--------------------------------------------------------
"Arab commentators are angry about the timing of the execution on one of the holiest days of the Muslim calendar. Some argue Washington rather than Baghdad dictated the timing and ask why Americans have not been brought to justice for all the Iraqis killed since the 2003 invasion."

Press fears over Saddam execution
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6220833.stm
________________________

I can't help but to think it may have been done to stir up a hornets nest.

"MECCA, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Arab 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."

Arab haj pilgrims outraged at Saddam execution
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061230/wl_nm/iraq_saddam_haj_dc

"...it was the Americans who counseled caution in the way the Iraqis carried out the hanging. The issues uppermost in the Americans’ minds, these officials said, were a provision in Iraq’s new Constitution that required the three-man presidency council to approve hangings, and a stipulation in a longstanding Iraqi law that no executions can be carried out during the Id al-Adha holiday, which began for Iraqi Sunnis on Saturday and Shiites on Sunday."

Rush to Hang Hussein Was Questioned
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/01/world/middleeast/01iraq.html?ex=1325307600&en=99c80f541d972c3a&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss

Answer 1

because they are stupid or President Bush pushed them into it. ( wouldn't be suprised if he did. Just another one on stupid things I have done list)

They want to create a government in a country where pratically everyone is muslim. I KNOW LETS OFFEND THEIR HOLIEST OF HOLIDAYS THAT A SURE WAY TO STOP TERROISTS AND UNIFY THE COUNTRY!!!

Answer 2

The decision was made by the Iraqis after he was convicted in an Iraqi court under Iraqi law, supposedly because they wanted it done before the holy period. It was not in any way an American decision, regardless of what some commentators might say. Have you considered that they may be saying that to stir up a hornet's nest?

Answer 3

If anyone would bother to research, Eid starts on different days for Sunnis and Shi'a. Saddam was a Sunni, and according to Wikipedia, that means his celebration of Eid would have begun today(12/30/06) instead of yesterday. This is just media fluff and inflation of a non-issue.

Answer 4

As the media is reporting it, here in the U.S. anyway, the reason for Saddam's execution on the particular date that it was held, was just prior to Eid, and they wanted to be sure that his death was carried out prior to the beginning of the holy day. Now. Please. I am just saying what I heard on the news, and I am not putting in my opinion.

Answer 5

Is this not just another of so many whys as to the Iraqi debacle. Personally I think it is disgraceful and shameful that we have stooped so low as to not have empathy and respect for other cultures and ways.

Until our world leaders are held accountable, we will live in deception and greed. The lobbyists are powerful and the backhanded pay offs are frequent. Remember that we live with propaganda and know who runs and is behind most of the news channels. Where the money sits and therefore the power. Who is behind wall street and the underlying racial prejudice and I am not talking white supremacists. I for one think it was done with deliberate vindictive thought.

Answer 6

I think people have way way to much time on their hands. Why is it the dog just can't give up the bone saying that the liberals will not be happy until they can tie Bush to this. Try as they may it will NEVER happen. It's Iraqs buisness and no one elses, it's the way they wanted it and thats the way it was. Done and over with we really do need to move on. Did anyone forget Gerald Ford has passed away? Gee.

Answer 7

The press is trying to stir it up. The reasoning and logical reasoning at that is because it was the first day of the festival and there would be few people on the streets should there be a problem. It was dousing the hornets nest, not stirring it up.

Answer 8

I was concerned about it being today also but it really doesn't seem to matter much. Every year at this time there are alot of Iraqi's killed on their mecca pilgrimage.

Answer 9

yeah im a muslim and my dad was just talking about this today. the poor man looked so scare when he was about to be tied up. they could have atleast waited a day or two. let him be happy on his last eid...but NOOOOOOOO they just had to kill him on that special day. i really dont get y they killed him? if they kill him they should kill bush.

Answer 10

Who cares

He's dead

Move on

Always some griping over NOTHING

Go watch the Wizard of Oz