The war crimes trial of Chad’s former President Hissene Habre resumes in the Senegalese capital Dakar.
Former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre had to be carried into court on and restrained by masked security guards on Monday as charges were read at the re-start of his trial in Senegal for crimes against humanity during his 1982-1990 rule.
Reed Brody, Counsel and Spokesperson for Human Rights Watch tweeted.
#HissèneHabré carried into court by Senegalese guards . Forced into chair and held down as supporters create ruckus and are expelled.
— Reed Brody 🧣⚖️ (@ReedBrody) September 7, 2015
Habre, accused of responsibility for thousands of killings and cases of torture during his eight-year rule, refused to recognize the legitimacy of the court.
“Shut up! Shut up!” Habre shouted at the clerk as the indictment was read, according to images transmitted on state broadcaster RTS. Habre had to be restrained in his seat by three balaclava-wearing police officers, as he shouted abuse at the court.
A media officer with campaign group Human Rights Watch tweeted on the war crimes trial of Chad’s ex-ruler Hissene Habre
Former Chad dictator #HissèneHabré now childishly chanting "shut up" as the court officer speaks…
— Andrew Stroehlein (@astroehlein) September 7, 2015
Reed Brody who is a counsel at Human Rights Watch and has worked with Habre’s victims since 1999 said that despite Habre’s making noise, he does not decide whether he should be tried or if the victims get justice.
Habre’s trial was suspended in July after his lawyers refused to appear before the special African Union-backed court. The case marks the first time that the former head of one African nation will be tried by a court in another.
A successful trial, conducted to high standards and leading to a credible verdict, would strengthen African countries’ argument that they can try their own leaders, amid criticism of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for indicting only Africans.
The trial caps a 15-year battle by victims and rights campaigners to bring the former strongman to justice in Senegal, where he fled after being toppled in a coup in his central African nation.
The 72-year-old, who faces charges of war crimes, torture and crimes against humanity, could face a maximum of life in prison. Dozens of victims were in Dakar to testify at the trial, thanks to the cooperation of the Chadian government.
Victims in front of the court a little earlier this morning – Trial of #HisseneHabre pic.twitter.com/OmS9qPY1Ei
— Andrew Stroehlein (@astroehlein) September 7, 2015
“Hissene Habre was the absolute king in Chad, throwing people in jail, having them tortured as he pleased, and now he’s acting like a spoiled child,” said Fatimé Sakine, 53, a secretary who was tortured during 15 months in prison from 1984 to 1986. “He’s just afraid of us and afraid of the truth.”
"He's just afraid of us and afraid of the truth." – Survivor Fatimé Sakine on #HissèneHabré http://t.co/6PFSsoKmGG pic.twitter.com/HDYlNnu3pW
— Andrew Stroehlein (@astroehlein) September 8, 2015
Former Chadian President physically dragged into courtroom
