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Iraq: "Chemical Ali" sentenced to death
over Kurdish genocide
24.6.2007
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Iraq's 'Chemical Ali' to be executed for genocide
June
24, 2007
BAGHDAD, June 24, -- An Iraqi court on Sunday
sentenced to death Ali Hassan al-Majeed, Saddam
Hussein's cousin and once one of the most feared men
in Iraq, for orchestrating the genocide of tens of
thousands of ethnic Kurds.
Majeed, known as Chemical Ali for his use of gas
against the regime's opponents, had been on trial
for his role in the 1988 Anfal (Spoils of War)
campaign against ethnic Kurds that prosecutors say
killed up to 182,000 Kurds.
Saddam had also been on trial for the Anfal campaign
when he was executed in December 2006 for other
crimes.
- Ali Hassan al-Majid
("Chemical Ali"), ex-Baath leader in northern Iraq,
was sentenced to death for genocide, war crimes and
crimes against humanity
- Sultan Hashim Ahmed,
former defence minister, was sentenced to death by
hanging for war crimes and crimes against humanity
- Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti,
ex-Republican Guard head, was sentenced to death for
war crimes and crimes against humanity
- Farhan al-Jibouri,
ex-military commander, was sentenced to life in
prison for war crimes and crimes against humanity
- Saber Abdul Aziz,
ex-intelligence chief, was sentenced to life in
prison for war crimes and crimes against humanity
- Taher Muhammad al-Ani,
ex-governor of Nineveh province was cleared of war
crimes and crimes against humanity for lack of
evidence Majid stood in silence as his death
sentence was pronounced. Others shouted they were
innocent on hearing their verdicts. |
Ali Hassan al-Majid, first cousin of executed
dictator Saddam Hussein and also known as Chemical
Ali, AP
Flash
Video - Sharqiya TV |
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It was not clear if any of the defendants planned to
appeal.
The court also sentenced to death two former
military commanders under Saddam for their roles in
the campaign. Two other commanders were sentenced to
life in prison, while charges were dropped against
the former governor of Mosul province for lack of
evidence.
During Anfal, thousands of villages declared
"prohibited areas" were razed and bombed as part of
a scorched-earth campaign. Thousands of villagers
were deported, many executed. Mustard gas and nerve
agents were used to clear villages.
Majeed admitted during the trial he ordered troops
to execute all Kurds who ignored orders to leave
their villages, but never confirmed ordering the use
of chemical weapons.
At the time of the campaign, he was head of the
Northern Bureau Command and was given powers
comparable to those of Saddam himself in the north.
The defendants have said Anfal had legitimate
military targets -- Kurdish guerrillas who had sided
with Iran during the last stage of the 1980-88
Iraq-Iran war.
All six former regime officials are accused of
masterminding the slaughter of 182,000 Kurdish
villagers during the Anfal campaign in Iraq's
northern Kurdistan region in 1988, when the
Iran-Iraq war was at its peak.
Reuters | BBC
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