Ali Hassan al-Majid
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Ali Hassan al-Majid (Arabic: علي حسن المجيد) 2007-1941 is a former Iraqi official and commander. A first cousin of former President Saddam Hussein, he was the Defense Minister of Iraq.
Anfal and the Gulf War
He has been called Chemical Ali and the Butcher of Kurdistan for his role in leading the al-Anfal Campaign during which he allegedly ordered a chemical weapons attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja that killed thousands of Kurds (see Halabja poison gas attack).
He oversaw the occupation of Kuwait in 1990 and 1991 and acted as the the country's military governor from August to November of 1990. He had a lead role in violently repressing the rebellions by Kurds and Shiites in the 1991 Iraqi civil war following the Gulf War.
After Gulf War
Considered a war criminal by human rights groups, he was placed by Saddam Hussein in charge of southern Iraq to quell any civilian uprisings and military mutinies. [1] "He is a senior adviser to Saddam. He is known as an enforcer for the regime," said a U.S. intelligence official, who asked not to be named. "He is used to put down uprisings and maintain order." [2]. In this role in which he took the title 'Commander of the Southern Region' he violently repressed a 1999 revolt against Saddam's regime which, according to a recent Human Rights Watch report, resulted in the death of hundreds of young Shiite men and their burial in mass graves around Basra. [3]
2003 Gulf War
Al-Majid had been mistakenly thought to have died in April of 2003, following the US-led 2003 Invasion of Iraq. After a coalition attack on his house in Basra, he was reported to have been killed by laser-guided bombs. "Major Andrew Jackson, of the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, said that the body was found along with that of his bodyguard and the head of Iraqi intelligence services in Basra." [4]
It turned out that U.K. military officials spoke too soon. In June 2003, al-Majid's status was changed from "...believed dead but unconfirmed" to "unknown" by U.S. defense officials, saying he might still be alive after all. He was rumored to have been joking and smiling in a Baghdad hospital on the day that it fell. This proved to be a justified doubt - U.S. officials confirmed on August 21, 2003 that he had been captured alive. He was prominent (fifth) on the U.S. list of most-wanted Iraqis and is the King of Spades in the deck of most-wanted Iraqi playing cards.
Trial
Al-Majid is currently standing trial for his alleged role in many of the above mentioned actions before the Iraq Special Tribunal (IST), set up by the Iraq Interim Government charged with crimes against humanity and genocide.
On January 8th 2007, the trial for his and others involvement in the Anfal campaign continued while the court listened to supposed conversations between Al-Majid and Saddam Hussein regarding use of Chemical Weapons, according to CNN.com the transcript played in the trial is shown below (look at link below in links to see source article):
"I will strike them with chemical weapons and kill them all," a voice identified by prosecutors as that of Majeed, Hussein's cousin and a senior aide, is heard saying.
"Who is going to say anything? The international community? Curse the international community," the voice continued.
"Yes, it's effective, especially on those who don't wear a mask immediately, as we understand," another voice, identified as Hussein, is heard saying on another tape.
"Sir, does it exterminate thousands?" a voice asks back.
"Yes, it exterminates thousands and forces them not to eat or drink and they will have to evacuate their homes without taking anything with them, until we can finally purge them," the voice identified as Hussein answers.
See also
- Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, nicknamed "Comical Ali" by British media in a play on al-Majid's nickname
External links
- Iraq trial tapes tell of 'extermination' plan, CNN, January 8, 2007
- 'Chemical Ali' in U.S. custody, CNN, August 21, 2003
- Iraq's 'Chemical Ali' may be alive, CNN, June 5, 2003
- Chemical Ali found dead
- Body of Chemical Ali found, say British forces - Guardian Unlimited - April 7, 2003