Tariq Aziz
Christian politician who served as Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister under Saddam Hussein for over two decades. He was the international face of the Ba'ath regime and died in prison in 2015 after being convicted of crimes against humanity.
Biography
Tariq Aziz was born Mikhail Yuhanna on April 28, 1936, in Tel Keppe, a mainly Assyrian Christian town in northern Iraq. He later took on the Arabic name Tariq Aziz to align with his Arab nationalist political identity while keeping his Chaldean Catholic faith. After studying at the University of Baghdad, he started working as a journalist and joined the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party in the 1950s, when it was an illegal political group. His early connection with Saddam Hussein began during this time of hidden political activities.
Aziz quickly moved up the ranks within the Ba'ath Party after it gained control in Iraq. He became a trusted member of Saddam Hussein's close team, taking on important roles like joining the Revolutionary Command Council and the Regional Command of the Iraqi Branch of the Ba'ath Party. In 1979, he became Deputy Prime Minister, and in 1983, Minister of Foreign Affairs, roles he held for over twenty years. As one of the few English-speaking officials and given Saddam's reluctance to travel due to security reasons, Aziz became Iraq's international representative during some of its most challenging times.
As Foreign Minister, Aziz dealt with major international issues like the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, and the sanctions that followed. He frequently attended United Nations meetings and diplomatic gatherings, defending Iraqi policies and trying to assert the country's stance globally. His role grew even more important leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, where he acted as the regime's main diplomatic spokesperson, claiming that American aims extended beyond regime change to 'region change,' mainly driven by oil interests and backing for Israel.
After Saddam Hussein's government fell in 2003, Aziz turned himself in to American forces on April 24, 2003. He was held at Camp Cropper near Baghdad, first by American forces and then by the new Iraqi government. His trials dragged on for years, during which he faced multiple charges because of his role in the past regime. Though acquitted of some charges, he was found guilty of crimes against humanity in 2009 and received a 15-year sentence for his role in the execution of 42 merchants in 1992, along with another 7 years for the forced relocation of Kurdish people. In 2010, he was given the death penalty by the Iraqi High Tribunal, sparking international outcry from various religious, political, and human rights groups. Aziz died in a Nasiriyah prison on June 5, 2015, while still serving his sentence.
Before Fame
Growing up as an ethnic Assyrian in Iraq during the 1930s and 1940s, Aziz saw the formation of modern Iraq under the Hashemite monarchy and the increasing influence of Arab nationalist movements. He attended the University of Baghdad during a time of political unrest in the Arab world, as pan-Arabism and socialist movements gained strength after World War II.
The Ba'ath Party attracted young intellectuals like Aziz because it promised to unite the Arab world under secular, socialist ideals while overcoming religious and ethnic divisions. His journalism background gave him communication skills and political insight, which were valuable during the party's secretive years in the 1950s, when members faced persecution under the monarchy and later republican governments.
Key Achievements
- Served as Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister from 1979 to 2003, making him one of the longest-serving officials in the Ba'ath government
- Held the position of Foreign Minister from 1983 to 1991 during critical periods including the Iran-Iraq War and Gulf War
- Became the primary international spokesman for Iraq at the United Nations and major diplomatic forums for over two decades
- Rose from journalist to member of the Revolutionary Command Council, demonstrating remarkable political ascent within the Ba'ath Party hierarchy
- Represented Iraq during crucial negotiations with international bodies during the sanctions period of the 1990s
Did You Know?
- 01.Despite being ethnically Assyrian and religiously Chaldean Catholic, he became one of the most prominent advocates for Arab nationalism in the Middle East
- 02.He survived an assassination attempt in 1980 when a hand grenade was thrown at him during a university speech in Baghdad
- 03.During his imprisonment, he refused to wear the standard orange prison uniform, insisting on maintaining his dignity as a former government official
- 04.He was fluent in multiple languages including Arabic, English, and Syriac, which made him invaluable as Iraq's international representative
- 05.In 2010, he and 25 fellow inmates began a hunger strike to protest restrictions on family visits while in prison