DR. MUSSADIQ ON TRIAL

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27193, 10 November 1953, Page 11

DR. MUSSADIQ ON TRIAL

Three Changes Brought (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 12.30 a.m.) TEHERAN, Nov. 9. Dr. Biussadiq banged the table with his fist and told a court-martial trying him at Saltanatabad Prison near Teheran today: “I not going to attend the coming sessions—even if you cut off my head.” 'Hie former Persian Prime Minister, who challenges the competence of the Court to deal with him, declared: “If you vote this Court competent you will sentence me to death. By Allah, I will not come to Court at all.”

In a rambling 33-minute speech today, Dr Mussadiq bitterly attacked the British, accusing them of being at the root of the troubles of Persia and himself. The speech was the second part of hjs submission on the competence of the Court to hear evidence and pass judgment. Dr. Mussadiq was charged with having defied the Shah, with trying to overthrow the regime, and with illegally dissolving. Parliament. The charge of attempting to overthrow the regime carries the death penalty. Dr. Mussadiq almost collapsed as he entered the Courtroom. . He was wear-

ing a grey dressing gown over grey woollen pyjamas. He complained of the cold and a kerosene stove was placed near him. In an exchange with the chairman of the five-man Army Court trying him, he said heatedly that he wanted to talk about the freedom of elections. He was told sharply to “talk on the competence of the Court, and only on the competence of the Court.” * Dr. Mussadiq again rose wearily to his feet and did so.

When the trial began, he answered preliminary questions in a quiet, shaky voice. He supported himself on a table and on a walking stick. He gave his religion as Shlia—one of the two great divisions of the Mohammedan faith.

As the trial started troops with fixed bayonets guarded the courtroom and

tanks patrolled outside. ®r. Mussadiq’s challenge to the competence of the Court is expected to start a legal argument which #may last for several days. Under Persian Army law a defendant can, at the outset, challenge the Court’s competence to try him. *Dr. Mussadiq broke into-loud weeping and banged his fists on the table as he accused the Court prosecutor of being there illegally. Still weeping, Dr. Mussadiq declared that the Court should not help “our rival”—his favourite phrase for the British—by convicting him. “World Anxiously Waiting”

He appeared to be gasping for breath and near collapse as he added: “Maybe I, as a fool, know something which you do not know today. The whole world is anxiously waiting to see the result of this trial. Our rival was defeated everywhere in the world. He could not pass sentence upon us. He was defeated in the Security Council. He was defeated ifi the International Court.”

The Court should not give the rest of the world an opportunity to say that four Persian officers had defeated the rival of Britain.

He added: “Today, by your vote, you can serve the country and the nation.”

Clapping broke out as the Court chairman interrupted Dr. Mussadiq: “None of us is working for the purposes of foreigners. Every individual Persian is no less patriotic, than you. You should avoid insulting the officers of the Court. We are more fanatic in our patriotism than you.”