The trial of Saddam Hussein was flawed and its verdict unsound, an international human rights organisation has claimed.
Human Rights Watch said it found a series of procedural errors that amounted to an unfair trial for the former Iraq dictator.
It accused the authorities of failing to disclose key evidence to the defence, not allowing witnesses to be cross-examined and questioned the impartiality of the judge.
Nehal Bhuta, who wrote a report on the trial, said imposing the death penalty on Hussein after such as trial was "indefensible".
Hussein was sentenced to be hanged earlier this month after being convicted of crimes against humanity.
The trial concerned revenge attacks that left more than 100 residents of Dujail dead following an assassination attempt on Hussein in 1982.
Human Rights Watch said its 97-page report was the most comprehensive analysis to date of the trial, which began in October 2005.
Two other defendants were sentenced to death by hanging. Four defendants received prison terms ranging from 15 years to life.