Iraq Set to Hang “Chemical Ali”
February 29, 2008
After lengthy debate over the fate of three men, Iraq’s presidency council, whose members consist of President Jalal Talabani and two deputies, have approved plans to execute Ali Hassan al-Majeed, commonly referred to as “Chemical Ali.” The fates of the two other men in question – Sultan Hashem, Saddam Hussein’s former defense minister, and Hussein Rashid Muhammed, his former army commander – are still being debated (Reuters).
Majeed, Saddam Hussein’s cousin, was convicted last June of genocide by attacking Iraqi Kurds with chemical weapons in 1988 (BBC). The attack occurred during the Anfal campaign and killed 100,000 people. The two other men were also convicted of genocide, among other charges. The three men are in American custody, but Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said he will be hanged within “a matter of days.” U.S. officials say there has been no request yet to hand Majeed over to Iraqi authorities.
The executions of Hashem and Muhammed are not as imminent as that of Majeed due to arguments by Sunni government officials, who claim that the men were just following orders. President Talabani and Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, both Sunnis, especially object to the execution of Hashem, who they believe is “a popular former general” who should not suffer the same fate as “Chemical Ali” and Saddam Hussein.
