As reported by “The Jerusalem Post”, on May 12, a court in Baghdad imposed the death penalty after hearing numerous witnesses and families of the victims who had been demanding justice for years. Al-Tikriti hid from justice for about 20 years until he was found in 2025.
During the investigation, he confessed to numerous crimes, including starving prisoners, torture, murder and sexual violence. Footage from Nugra Salman prison, published in Iraqi media, showed a place where brutal abuses took place.
“Saddam Hussean's Butcher” and accounting for the regime's crimes
The verdict was described as a historic moment for the victims' families and the Kurdish community. Kurdish media emphasize that the court's decision brings at least a partial sense of justice after decades of impunity. The case also has political significance because it shows that Iraq is ready to hold accountable the crimes of Saddam's regime.
The process also strengthened the position of the Kurds, who have been demanding greater participation in central politics for years. Iraqi authorities noted that the evidence against al-Tikriti was overwhelming. Investigators determined that he was directly involved in the deaths of over 1,000 people. people. The verdict is intended to be a signal that the perpetrators of war crimes cannot count on impunity, even after many years. For many Iraqis, the trial is proof that the country can pursue justice despite the difficult political situation. The verdict was welcomed as an important step towards settling the past and building trust between communities.
The Anfal campaign and the death of thousands of Kurds
The Anfal Campaign was a series of military operations conducted by Saddam Hussein's regime against the Kurds in 1987–1988 and is considered an act of genocide. During it, the Iraqi army used mass executions, deportations and chemical attacks, including the most famous attack on Halabja. It is estimated that between 50,000 and 100,000 people died. Kurds, and entire villages were systematically destroyed.
The operation was conducted by elite Iraqi units under the command of Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as “Chemical Ali”. The Anfal campaign remains one of the most tragic episodes in the history of Iraqi Kurdistan and a key point of reference in discussions about the crimes of the Saddam regime.
