Human Rights Abuse in Saddam Era Iraq
Saddam Hussein seized control of the Ba’ath party in 1979 (the party itself had ruled since 1968). Iraq would become a country known for the flagrant abuse of human rights under the Hussein dictatorship.
Hussein almost instantly began putting pressure on two large sections of the Iraqi population. The Kurds in the north and the Shia populations of the south. In 1988 Saddam Hussein began a genocidal era, largely targeting the Kurdish population. The events sparked international controversy and debate.
Human rights abuses were also targeted towards more than just the Shia’s and Kurds. Saddam had used chemical weapons on the war with Iran, along with a plethora of human rights abuses in Kuwait.
Human Rights Abuse Chronology and Figures
- Between 1977 and 1987, some 4,500-5,000 Kurdish villages were destroyed. The survivors flocked to “settlement camps”
- In the spring of 1987, an aerial bombardment campaign began to target the Kurdish population. Chemical agents were involved.
- In 1988 the official Anfal campaign began, resulting the in execution of over 100,000 Kurdish “rebels” (read: civilians)
- Later on in the same year, the continued bombardment of Kurdish villages (chemical weapons) were thought to be responsible for the death of a further 5000 Kurds.
- From 1991 until the death and removal of Saddam from power. 120,000 Kurds are thought to have been expelled. (process known as Arabization)
- Between 50,000 and 70,000 Shi’a Muslims were incarcerated and tortured during the Iran-Iraq war with the accusation of supporting the Iranians. The majority of these people remain unaccounted for.
- Following these events a further 500,000 Shi’a Muslims were expelled.
- Human rights advocates such as Amnesty International place the “general” amount of disappearances at around 290,000. (In addition to all of the above)
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