The former Iraqi official known as "Chemical Ali" was sentenced Sunday to death for the fourth time, in this instance for ordering the use of chemical warfare materials that killed more than 5,000 in the Kurdish village of Halabja, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, March 18, 2009).
(Jan. 19) -
Iraqi television replays the trial and sentencing of former Iraqi official Ali Hassan al-Majid on Sunday. Al-Majid, also known as "Chemical Ali," received a fourth death sentence for ordering the use of chemical warfare materials against Iraqi Kurds in the late 1980s (Sabah Arar/Getty Images).
"I am so happy today," said Nazik Tawfiq, who said that six relatives were killed in the 1988 strike. "Now the souls of our victims will rest in peace."
Ali Hassan al-Majid, cousin to former dictator Saddam Hussein, has previously been sentenced to death for the 1980s Anfal campaign against Iraqi Kurds and for brutal acts of suppression against Shiites in the nation in the 1990s.
Also convicted today of involvement in the Halabja attack were former Hussein regime Defense Minister Sultan Hashim al-Tai and one-time military intelligence chief Sabir Azizi al-Douri. Each could spend 15 years in prison in this case, while former high-level military official Farhan Mutlaq al-Jubouri received a 10-year sentence.
The use of nerve agent and mustard blister agent caused long-term health problems for surviving residents of Halabja, some of whom were frustrated that Hussein was never tried for the crime before being executed three years ago in another case (see GSN, Jan. 3, 2007).
Al-Majid's execution has been delayed after being tied up in a political dispute over whether to execute al-Tai for the Anfal campaign. Some top leaders have said they would not sign the execution order for the former defense chief.
One Halabja resident said he hoped to see al-Majid hanged in the village.
"Chemical Ali massacred us and we want to see him getting what he deserves," said village official Mohammed Saeed Ali (Sameer Yacoub, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, Jan. 17).
Al-Majid is set to be put to death "very soon," Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told Reuters.
"It will not take a long time for Hassan al-Majid to receive his just punishment for the crimes he committed against the Iraqi people," he said, without offering specifics (Aseel Kami, Reuters/Yahoo!News, Jan. 17).