The execution of Saddam Hussein was meant to be a crowning achievement for the newly appointed Iraqi government.

However, the release of a cell phone video depicting Iraqi officials taunting the former dictator has sparked violence between Islamic religious sects, and some people have begun to question the integrity of the highly publicized trial.

Michael Rubner, a professor of international relations in the James Madison College, said the U.S. should not have trusted the Iraqi government in handling the trial.

"The tragic part of this episode is that it's emblematic of the failure of American policy in Iraq," Rubner said. "We trusted the Iraqi government, which is run by Shiites, to carry this out with dignity and humility, and we were wrong."

The hanging, which took place before dawn Dec. 30, 2006 overshadowed the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which marks the end of the traditional pilgrimage to Mecca and falls on Dec. 31. Some people have criticized the Iraqi government's decision to hold the execution on the eve of a religious celebration, and in the days following Saddam's death, protests from Sunni supporters have erupted into violence.

Sierra Vandenheubel, a human resources senior, predicts violence will continue into the new year.

"(The execution) will probably increase the violence," Vandenheubel said. "It won't help the situation."

As the cell phone video suggests, Saddam held his head high while being taunted in the moments before his death. This has given many of his supporters reason to regard him as a martyr. Experts predict this to be a setback in efforts to calm the war-torn nation.

"This is symbolic of the deep hatred between the two sects," Rubner said. "The Sunnis will continue to see him as a martyr. Executing him was a mistake."

With the increase in violence, many world officials have condemned the actions of the Iraqi government. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and President Bush have denounced the manner in which the execution took place. Guy Sibley, a 19-year-old East Lansing resident, disagreed and said Saddam was tried fairly.

"Given the present situation in Iraq, the trial was handled fairly," Sibley said. "I don't believe his leadership showed him deserving of (martyrdom)."

On Thursday, more than 1,500 Iraqis demonstrated their disapproval of the execution.

Violence might increase as Iraq prepares to execute two of Saddam's co-defendants.

"The Iraqis are at each other's throats," Rubner said. "I expect continued violence for a long period of time."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.