Saddam’s execution
Saddam Hussein, the man who brought suffering to many Arabs, has been executed in a secret location in a northern Baghdad suburb, Khademiya.
The execution took place just before 6 a.m. Baghdad time, concurrent with the Muslim holiday, Eid Al-Adha. His execution was communicated by a US-backed Arab television station, Al Hurra and the Al-Arabiya channel. The Iraqi foreign minister, Labeeb Abbawi, had also confirmed that Saddam was executed. He said, “It has been officially announced that he has been executed.”
Witnesses of the execution were minimal, one of them included the Iraqi National Security Advisor Mouwafak al-Rubaie. They watched as the judge read the sentence inside a building at a compound to Saddam Hussein.
Saddam was said to be carrying a copy of the Quran. The Quran was also said to be close to his chest the whole way through.
The noose was placed around Saddam’s neck, and all along Saddam refused to be hooded by the hangman. The execution then took only a few minutes.
The footage will be released later to prove the execution of Saddam was authentic. There may be a shortfall, with the footage falling short of depicting the actual hanging.
As previously speculated during the breaking news of Saddam Hussein’s execution, it appears that Saddam’s half brother and former chief judge have not been executed. Their execution is alleged to take place at a later date.
Human Rights groups have condemned the execution saying now that Saddam is dead he will no longer have to face the justice of his victims who did not get to testify against him.
George W. Bush response
US President, George W. Bush is yet to make a visual public announcement; however, he has issued a statement.
George W. Bush said through statement, “It is a testament to the Iraqi people’s resolve to move forward after decades of oppression that, despite his terrible crimes against his own people, Saddam Hussein received a fair trial.
“Bringing Saddam Hussein to justice will not end the violence in Iraq.” The statement also read that Saddam’s execution had been “an important milestone on Iraq’s course to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain, and defend itself.”
The statement went on, “Saddam was executed after receiving a fair trial — the kind of justice he denied the victims of his brutal regime.”
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein was a callous tyrant who tried to eradicate the Kurdish population in Iraq and killed 148 Shia peasants. Saddam attempted to invade Kuwait and also tried to invade Iran. The attempted invasion of Iran, initiated by Saddam Hussein, led to almost one million calamities of war on both sides.
Saddam Hussein was a Sunni man who never knew his father. There are claims that he may have even been illegitimate. Saddam Hussein had a minority of supporters, but during 1990 a surprise of almost 100% of votes for the former dictator to remain in power following presidential elections, manifesting fraud. Saddam oppressed all political opponents and no-one was immune from his venom. He went on to order the deaths of his two son-in-laws.
Saddam Hussein’s daughter, Raghd, who is in Jordan, is said to be distressed and has asked that her father be buried in Yemen temporarily until Iraq is liberated and then the body can be returned.
Auburn
In Sydney, Australia, Auburn is home to many Iraqi expatriates. Walking through Auburn is like walking through the streets of Baghdad. The Iraqi presence is very dominant, and at one stage there were claims that Christmas had been banned from Auburn to respect the overwhelming Muslim majority. Most Iraqis had come to Sydney to flee the antagonism that Saddam brought to his people.
Today, 2.20 p.m. Saturday, Sydney time, news broke through that Saddam had been executed. Iraqis geared up for vast celebrations. Police cordoned Auburn’s main streets for Iraqi Australians, who fled the tyranny of Hussein to celebrate.
As the news broke through Iraqis began singing and dancing. The majority of course being the Shia sect. who overtly opposes the former dictator.
Later in to the celebrations police moved in after a fight broke out with a Sunni and Shia Iraqi. An opponent of Saddam Hussein was challenged by a Sunni supporter. There was no further violence. Many told their stories to the media of brothers and husbands who were killed by Hussein and his Baathist allies.
Auburn man Issam Abdullah: It’s not making me happy but it’s making me feel sorry why all this has happened. The damage is done. Saddam Hussein does lots of bad things to the Iraqi nation and targeted everybody whether they were Muslims, Christians, whatever.
Dearborn, Michigan
Likely the most televised celebrations following the news of the execution, took place in the pre-dominantly Arab area or Dearborn, Detroit, Michigan.
Approximately 150-something people danced in the dark streets of Dearborn, sounding their horns, cheering and singing and covered in American and Iraqi flags.
Imam Husham Al-Husainy appeared at the celebrations. He called the execution, “the gift of our new year.” He said, “This is our celebration of the death of Saddam Hussein.”
Similar scenes were seen in the city of Sadr in Baghdad. The festive gatherings in Sadr were echoed all over the world; however some Sunni Muslims in Iraq and other locations have not welcomed the news.
The end of Hussein
The world will now watch as the news of possible violent backlash in Iraq unfolds. The US military is gearing up for potential insurgent attacks by Sunni extremist, a minority of supporters of deceased Hussein. Some terror groups may exploit the death of the former dictator to incite and orchestrate terror attacks; however Saddam was never linked to any terrorist network.
