Halabja victims condemn appeal for pardon of Saddam’s defense minister
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Victims of the Halabja chemical attack have reacted with sadness to the news of a request to pardon Saddam Hussein’s former defense minister.
Iraqi parliament speaker Salim al-Jabouri has appealed for an “exceptional pardon” for General Sultan Hashim Ahmad, in a letter sent to President Fuad Masum and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, AFP reported.
The request is being made on health grounds. Ahmad, 74, was sentenced to death in 2007, but the execution has not been carried out.
Jabouri said he has received “numerous requests from dignitaries in Mosul” for the pardon ahead of Ramadan. Mosul is Ahmad’s hometown.
Ahmad served in the Iraqi Army during the Iran-Iraq war and rose to the highest ranking position. One of Saddam’s inner circle, he was appointed defense minister in 1995, staying in the post until he surrendered to US forces in 2003.
Kurds believe Ahmad played a key role in the Iraqi regime’s genocidal campaign against the Kurds.
Luqman Abdulqadir, head of the Halabja Chemical Victims Society, told Rudaw English he was surprised by the request for a pardon.
“We are very sad,” he said.
“Those ruling Iraq, be them Shiite or Sunnis, whenever they see the glimmer of an opportunity, they will finish what Saddam did not manage to finish against Kurds,” Abdulqadir said.
“Shame on those making such requests working in the highest legislative body,” he added.
The Halabja Chemical Victims Society plans to hold an urgent meeting on the matter.
Iraqi parliament speaker Salim al-Jabouri has appealed for an “exceptional pardon” for General Sultan Hashim Ahmad, in a letter sent to President Fuad Masum and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, AFP reported.
The request is being made on health grounds. Ahmad, 74, was sentenced to death in 2007, but the execution has not been carried out.
Jabouri said he has received “numerous requests from dignitaries in Mosul” for the pardon ahead of Ramadan. Mosul is Ahmad’s hometown.
Ahmad served in the Iraqi Army during the Iran-Iraq war and rose to the highest ranking position. One of Saddam’s inner circle, he was appointed defense minister in 1995, staying in the post until he surrendered to US forces in 2003.
Kurds believe Ahmad played a key role in the Iraqi regime’s genocidal campaign against the Kurds.
Luqman Abdulqadir, head of the Halabja Chemical Victims Society, told Rudaw English he was surprised by the request for a pardon.
“We are very sad,” he said.
“Those ruling Iraq, be them Shiite or Sunnis, whenever they see the glimmer of an opportunity, they will finish what Saddam did not manage to finish against Kurds,” Abdulqadir said.
“Shame on those making such requests working in the highest legislative body,” he added.
The Halabja Chemical Victims Society plans to hold an urgent meeting on the matter.