Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
Members of the Islamic Council of Jamaica greet each other after their morning prayer at the Festival of Eid ul-Adha. The festival, held at Hope Gardens, St. Andrew, is celebrated in memory of Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham) who was willing to sacrifice his son.

Shelly-Ann Thompson, Sunday Gleaner Writer

While not despondent that former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has been executed, the local Islamic community is calling his trial and execution a "democratic hypocrisy".

Mustafa Muhammad, president of the Islamic Council of Jamaica, said that from the perspectives of human rights and justice, Hussein was not granted a fair trial.

"Saddam (Hussein) was a persecutor of Muslims. But at the same time, the way he was executed shows the hypocrisy of the democracy that these people say they are living and want for Muslims," said the cleric.

Mr. Muhammad was speaking with The Sunday Gleaner yesterday at The Festival of Eid ul-Adha held at Hope Gardens in St. Andrew.

Hussein was hanged Friday night (Jamaica time) for crimes against humanity after ordering the death of 148 Shi'ite men and boys after a failed assassination bid in 1982. The former Iraqi president, ousted in April 2003 by a United States-led invasion, was convicted in November.

"What I am getting from the (Islamic) community is that they are not pleased by the manner in which the trial (Saddam Hussein's) was conducted. Saddam had to be found guilty, but everyone has a right to defend himself justly," Mr. Muhammad told The Sunday Gleaner.

Four-day celebration

The festival, which includes a morning prayer, is celebrated in memory of Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham) who was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac, obeying Allah (God's) commands. The festival started yesterday and will last for four days. It has been celebrated in Jamaica annually since 1982 on the 10th of the 12th month of the Islamic calendar.

About 500 members of various Muslim communities gathered in the car park area of Hope Gardens.

Hussein's execution, held just minutes before the beginning of the festival at sunrise, has also angered the Muslims.

"This shows a scant regard for the festival," said Mr. Muhammad.

"But they did it because the Islamic community is in a celebratory mood, so the emotions surrounding his death would subside, that it will just pass," added the president.