Iraq Marks 19 Years Since the Execution of Saddam Hussein

PUKMEDIA

former dictator Saddam Hussein.

Iraq on Tuesday marked the 19th anniversary of the execution of former dictator Saddam Hussein, who was put to death on 30 December 2006 after being convicted of crimes against humanity.

Saddam was executed at dawn following a ruling by the Iraqi Special Tribunal, which found him guilty for his role in the 1982 Dujail massacre, in which dozens of civilians were killed after a failed assassination attempt against him. The verdict was delivered by a court presided over by Judge Raouf Rashid Abdul Rahman, bringing to a close the first and most prominent case against the former ruler.

His execution marked the definitive end of an era in Iraq’s modern history. Saddam had ruled the country for nearly a quarter of a century, serving as president from 1979 until his overthrow on 9 April 2003 during the US-led invasion. He was captured later that year, on 13 December 2003, near his hometown of Tikrit, after being found hiding in an underground shelter.

Saddam rose to power after consolidating control within the Ba’ath Party and eliminating political rivals. His presidency was dominated by war and repression, including the eight-year Iran–Iraq War from 1980 to 1988 and the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, which led to the 1991 Gulf War.

His rule was also characterised by widespread human rights abuses. Among the most notorious were crimes committed against the Kurdish population, including the Anfal campaign of 1987–1988, the destruction of more than 4,500 Kurdish villages, and the chemical attack on Halabja. Thousands of Shias and political opponents were also subjected to imprisonment, torture, and execution.

The death sentence was carried out by hanging on the morning of Eid al-Adha. Saddam Hussein was born on 28 April 1937 and was 69 years old at the time of his execution.

Nearly two decades on, the anniversary continues to serve as a reminder of a painful period in Iraq’s history and the lasting impact of dictatorship, conflict, and injustice on the country and its people.


PUKMEDIA