Biography
Ali Hassan al-Majid al-Tikriti was born around 1941 in Tikrit, Iraq, into a family with strong connections to Iraq's future leaders. A close cousin of Saddam Hussein, al-Majid moved up the ranks of Iraq's Ba'ath Party and military during the second half of the 20th century. His rise was closely tied to his relationship with Hussein, who became Iraq's president in 1979. Al-Majid held several top positions in the Iraqi government, such as defense minister, interior minister, and head of the General Security directorate. During the Gulf War, he served as the governor of Kuwait after Iraq invaded the country in 1990. His roles in the government positioned him at the heart of many of Iraq's controversial domestic and global policies in the 1980s and 1990s. Al-Majid gained international notoriety for his involvement in military campaigns against internal groups, especially against Kurdish people in northern Iraq and Shia communities in the south. His tactics earned him the nickname 'Chemical Ali,' particularly due to his use of chemical weapons against civilians. The most infamous of these events was the al-Anfal campaign in the 1980s, involving mass deportations, executions, and chemical attacks on Kurdish areas. After the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and Saddam Hussein's government downfall, al-Majid was captured by coalition forces. The new Iraqi government charged him with war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. His trial began in 2006, mainly focusing on his part in the al-Anfal campaign and other suppressive actions against Kurd and Shia populations. In June 2007, he was convicted and sentenced to death for genocide against the Kurds. Despite appeals, the death sentence was upheld, and he received additional sentences for other crimes. Al-Majid was executed by hanging in Baghdad on January 25, 2010, joining several other high-ranking officials from Hussein's regime who faced capital punishment for their actions during Ba'ath Party rule.
Before Fame
Born into a tribal family in Tikrit, al-Majid grew up during a time of major political change in Iraq. The country went through several coups and government changes throughout the 1950s and 1960s, which opened doors for ambitious people to climb the political and military ladders. His family ties to Saddam Hussein, who was also from Tikrit, gave al-Majid early access to Ba'ath Party circles. The Ba'ath Party, based on Arab socialism and nationalism, became more influential in Iraqi politics during this time. Al-Majid got involved with the party just as it was gaining power, leading to the 1968 coup when the Ba'ath Party took control of Iraq.
Key Achievements
- Served as Iraq's Defense Minister and Interior Minister under Saddam Hussein
- Appointed Governor of Kuwait during Iraqi occupation from 1990-1991
- Led the al-Anfal military campaign against Kurdish populations in the 1980s
- Directed counter-insurgency operations against Shia uprising in southern Iraq following Gulf War
- Held position as chief of Iraq's General Security directorate
Did You Know?
- 01.He was sentenced to death four separate times by Iraqi courts for different sets of crimes
- 02.During his governorship of Kuwait, he oversaw the systematic looting of the country's resources and cultural artifacts
- 03.Al-Majid was known to have recorded audio tapes of his meetings, some of which were later used as evidence in his war crimes trials
- 04.He survived multiple assassination attempts by Kurdish resistance groups during the 1980s
- 05.His execution was delayed several times due to legal appeals and procedural requirements in the Iraqi court system