Amnesty International on Sunday condemned the death sentences handed to Saddam Hussein and two of his senior allies, describing their trial as a 'shabby affair, marred by serious flaws'.
The London-based human rights group -- which opposes capital punishment -- said the trial should have helped the process of establishing justice and the rule of law in Iraq but was in fact "deeply flawed and unfair".
"This trial should have been a major contribution towards establishing justice and the rule of law in Iraq, and in ensuring truth and accountability for the massive human rights violations perpetrated by Saddam Hussein's rule," said Malcolm Smart, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme.
"In practice, it has been a shabby affair, marred by serious flaws that call into question the capacity of the tribunal, as currently established, to administer justice fairly, in conformity with international standards."
Amnesty charged that "political interference undermined the independence and impartiality of the court", prompting the first presiding judge to resign and the appointment of another to be blocked.
The court also failed to take adequate measures to protect witnesses and defence lawyers, three of whom were killed during the trial, it added.
Saddam himself was denied access to legal counsel for the first year after his arrest, while there appeared to have been inadequate responses to complaints by lawyers throughout the judicial process, Amnesty said.
"Every accused has a right to a fair trial, whatever the magnitude of the charge against them. This plain fact was routinely ignored through the decades of Saddam Hussein's tyranny," Smart continued.
"His overthrow opened the opportunity to restore this basic right and, at the same time, to ensure, fairly, accountability for the crimes of the past. It is an opportunity missed."
Amnesty's charges were backed by some British Muslim groups, who said there would now be no opportunity to force Saddam to explain issues surrounding the Iran-Iraq war and the invasion of Kuwait.
Saddam was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity for his role in ordering the deaths of 148 Shia villagers in the village of Dujail, north of Baghdad.
Amnesty said it would follow closely the appeal stage, the procedure for which begins on Monday, saying the Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal had a chance to "redress the flaws" of the Dujail trial in future proceedings.