BAGHDAD, Iraq – The late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s granddaughter has stirred up a small storm by posting a series of pictures of her wedding preparations, garnering criticism for the family’s extravagance at a time when so many Iraqis are suffering.
The wedding of Banan, daughter of Raghd and granddaughter to Saddam, is set to take place in Amman, the Jordanian capital.
The invitation cards and some other wedding accessories are in the shape of Saddam’s Baath party logo, and flags shown are old ones from the dictator’s time.
The reception is reportedly due to take place on Monday at one of Amman’s most exclusive hotels.
The pictures, uploaded on Instagram, have caused a controversy on all sides, criticized by tribal leaders and locals alike. Many are angry because they suspect the luxuries are being paid by money stolen by Saddam during his dictatorial rule.
Falah Nada, chief of Saddam’s Nada tribe in Tikrit, has been at the forefront of the criticism, particularly noting that the wedding takes place in this manner at a time of turmoil in Iraq.
“They should have respected the people, tribe and relatives in Iraq at this critical time, when they are displaced and many are in bad conditions,” he told the Elaf newspaper,
“How can they publicly hold such a wedding on this magnitude when they could have helped people with that money?” he said. “They should have kept their family affairs private. How can the granddaughter of Saddam Hussein post pictures in such revealing dresses and hug the groom like that?” he said furiously.
This comes at a time when Saddam’s tomb was bombed nearly three months ago.
Hussein Kamil Majeed, Banan’s father, was Iraq’s minister of industry. But in 1995 he fled for Jordan together with his family and brother, and from there denounced Saddam.
In 1996, Saddam publicly announced he had forgiven them and asked them to return. When they did, he had Majeed and his brother both executed.
