BAGHDAD: Iraq announced on Monday that a high-level security officer during the rule of Saddam Hussein has been hanged for his involvement in the 1980 killing of a prominent Shiite cleric.
The National Security Service said that Saadoun Sabri Al-Qaisi, who held the rank of major general under Saddam and was arrested last year, was convicted of “grave crimes against humanity,” including the killing of prominent Iraqi Shiite cleric Mohammed Baqir Al-Sadr, members of the Al-Hakim family, and other civilians.
The agency did not say when Al-Qaisi was executed.
Al-Sadr was a leading critic of Iraq’s secular Baathist government and Saddam, his opposition intensifying following the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, which heightened Saddam’s fears of a Shiite-led uprising in Iraq.
In 1980, as the government moved against Shiite activists, Al-Sadr and his sister Bint Al-Huda — a religious scholar and activist who spoke out against government oppression — were arrested. Reports indicate they were tortured before being executed by hanging on April 8, 1980.
The execution sparked widespread outrage at the time and remains a symbol of repression under Saddam’s rule. Saddam was from Iraq’s Sunni minority.
Since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, authorities have pursued former officials accused of crimes against humanity and abuses against political and religious opponents. Iraq has faced criticism from human rights groups over its application of the death penalty.
Iraq executes a former senior officer under Saddam for the 1980 killing of a Shiite cleric
https://arab.news/9maan
Iraq executes a former senior officer under Saddam for the 1980 killing of a Shiite cleric
- Al-Sadr was a leading critic of Saddam’s secular Baathist government whose dissent intensified after the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran
- The cleric’s execution in 1980 became a symbol of oppression under Saddam
Egypt condemns Iran’s attacks, stands with GCC, Jordan, Iraq
- Cairo slams Israel for Lebanon attacks, illegal Gaza actions
- Diplomacy remains the only solution, experts tell Arab News
CAIRO: Egypt is holding intensive communications with regional and international players to emphasize the need for de-escalation as the US-Israel war on Iran shows no sign of abating.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry is pushing for calm in the region and has condemned Iran’s attacks on the GCC nations, Jordan and Iraq.
Since the first day of the war, Egypt has prioritized diplomacy as the only way to prevent the region from sliding into chaos.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, during a recent call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, stressed the seriousness of the situation and condemned Tehran’s behavior.
Egypt condemned Iran’s attack on a residential complex in the Saudi city of Al-Kharj that killed two people, reiterating its full solidarity with the Kingdom.
Cairo also slammed Israel’s attacks in Lebanon, which have resulted in the displacement of nearly 700,000 Lebanese citizens.
The ministry reaffirmed Egypt’s support for Lebanon and its rejection of Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty.
It also lambasted Israeli practices in the West Bank, including land confiscation and settlement expansion, in flagrant violation of international law.
Abdel Raouf El-Reedy, Egypt’s former ambassador to the US, told Arab News that Cairo’s position “is characterized by wisdom,” as the country rejects the “attack on the sovereignty of the brotherly Arab countries.”
He added: “The continuation of the war will have negative consequences for the Middle East region.”
El-Reedy said there was no alternative to political and diplomatic solutions, “because the continuation of military escalation will have negative repercussions on the Middle East region.”
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said at an iftar function recently that the region was going through difficult circumstances, and expressed hope that the war would end soon.
Speaking to Arab News, Ezzat Saad, executive director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, said the attack on Arab countries was unacceptable, and that military escalation would lead to negative consequences for the Middle East.
Many Egyptian citizens told Arab News they support fellow Arab nations.
Ahmed Negm, a dentist, said he stood with Egypt’s neighbors and called for the attacks to end.
Mona Ahmed, a Cairo University graduate, said Egypt has strong and longstanding ties with the GCC states, noting that millions of Egyptians have been working in these countries for many decades.
Mahmoud Ahmed, a graphic designer, voiced concern over the attacks and expressed support for Egypt’s position of solidarity with Arab countries. He also called for peace.
Ahmed Younes, a journalist and researcher, highlighted the strong economic ties between Egypt and the Gulf states, and said the continuation of the war would affect the stability of the Middle East.
