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US: Saddam Verdict Good News For Kurdish
Local Family
6.11.2006 |
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Free To Visit Iraq Since
Overthrow
KGO, November 5, -- Today's verdict was
especially well received by one Kurdish family in
the Bay Area who fled Iraq years ago to escape
Saddam Hussein's regime.
The Babans are Kurds born in Iraq. They fled Iraq
and today Niaz Baban was heading back to Kurdistan
where she says the news about Saddam's conviction
was joyously received.
Niaz Baban booked her trip to see her family in
Kurdistan long ago, not knowing today would be like
a national holiday there.
Niaz Baban, Iraqi Kurd: "I'm sure, as my mom
described it, people are dancing in the street,
singing, dancing, celebrating. Some people took the
day off as a holiday. So happy there."
Buland Baban was a Kurdish activist in Baghdad in
the 1970s.
Buland Baban, Iraqi Kurd: "I had to leave. It was
not safe for me to stay because I was being followed
by Saddam's regime at that time."
Together they made a life in the U.S., Buland as a
telecommunications specialist, Niaz as a dentist.
Since Saddam was overthrown they've returned
numerous times to Kurdistan, something unthinkable
during
Saddam's regime. |
Photo:ABC |
Saddam's sentence today was for the conviction of
the murders of 148 Shiites. He is still on trial for
the 1988 genocide of 180,000 Kurds.
That trial is not yet concluded, and may not be
before Saddam is executed.
Still, the conviction and sentencing for the crimes
against Shia, is for the Baban's a victory.
Niaz Baban, Iraqi Kurd: "We are all Iraqi's so same
thing with the Shia that happened to them, it
happened to the Kurds. Nobody was safe from him."
Saddam's death sentence is fine with Buland Boban.
Buland Baban, Iraqi Kurd: "I think so. I think
that's the least he can get, yes."
One more thing about the Baban's: since the
overthrow of Saddam Hussein they have opened a
business a food processing business in Kurdistan --
employing 20 people -- in a country they couldn't
even visit during Saddam's regime.
abclocal go.com
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