The elderly defendant who shuffled into court leaning on a walking stick was the shadow of the man whose very name once terrorised a nation.

Ali Hassan al-Majid, dressed in the brown robes of a simple Arab peasant and wearing a black and white checkered keffiyeh over his head, was never in any doubt about the verdict nor the likely sentence.

He looked tired, frail and older than his 66 years. He seemed to want the whole episode over as quickly as possible, even though he must have known that it would end in his death sentence.

“You had all the civil and military authority for northern Iraq,” said Justice Muhammad Orabi Majid al-Khalifa, the presiding judge, reminding the court of the period 20 years ago when the man nicknamed “Chemical Ali” launched a reign of terror over the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

Iraq timeline: five years of conflict

From accusations that the weapons of mass destruction dossier had been sexed-up to withdrawal of British troops from Basra

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“You gave orders to troops and military intelligence officers to kill Kurdish civilians and put them in severe conditions. You subjected them to harsh attacks using chemical weapons, artillery and aircraft. You led the killing of Iraqi villagers and harmed many more. You confined them to their areas, burned their orchards, killed their livestock. You committed genocide,” he said.

The events he was describing were the so-called Anfal (spoils of war) campaign ordered by Saddam Hussein in 1987 to punish the Kurds for their suspected alliance with Iran, then at war with Iraq.

The court had heard how the decision was made to depopulate the Kurdish region along the Iranian border, razing Kurds’ homes and crops and killing anyone who opposed Baghdad’s authority. When the scorched earth campaign was over an estimated 180,000 Kurds were dead and 3,000 villages destroyed.

Al-Majid, Saddam’s cousin, had opened a new chapter in the history of war crimes with the use of chemical weapons against civilians. In Halabja, 5,000 Kurdish men, women and children perished. beneath a blanket of poison gas.

At the time al-Majid thought he was untouchable. An audio tape recovered from that period records him saying: “I will kill them all [the Kurds] with chemical weapons! Who is going to say anything? The international community? To hell with them!”

When al-Majid finally faced his judgment day 20 years later, the courthouse was located in a former Baath party palace and the guards outside were Americans. Justice was swift and predictable. During the trial al-Majid admitted that he was responsible for carrying out the orders against the Kurds, but he insisted that he was not apologising nor had he made any mistakes.

The judge sentenced him to “hang until you are dead” four times for genocide, crimes against humanity and assorted war crimes. Al-Majid looked up when the judgment was finished, shrugged and simply answered “thanks be to God” before being led out of the court by two guards.

Two other defendants also received the death penalty. They did not go as quietly.

Hussein Rashid Muhammad al-Tikriti, the Army’s deputy chief of staff, hit back when his sentence was read out. “We defended Iraq and were not criminals,” he said. “Long live the brave Iraqi army. Long live Iraq. Long live the Baath Party and long live the Arab nations.”

Sultan Hashim Ahmad al-Tai, the former commander of the Army’s First Corps, meekly tried to protest his innocence. “I will not say anything new, but I will leave you to God. I am innocent,” he said.

Farhan Saleh al-Jabouri Mut-laq, the former regional military intelligence chief, was sentenced to life imprisonment along with Sabir Abdulaziz al-Douri, the head of military intelligence.

Tahir Tawfiq al-Ani, a former governor, was acquitted through lack of evidence.

News of the sentences was greeted with joy in northern Iraq among Kurds who have waited a generation for their chief tormentor to be punished. In Halabja survivors clustered around TV sets to watch the sentence live on television. In Irbil groups of Kurds began dancing in the streets.

Shadi Ghazi, a university student, was born during the Iraqi offensive and lost his father and two brothers in Halabja. He said: “I believe that he and my brothers will be able to rest in peace once the punishment is carried out.”

He may not have to wait long. The three men on death row will have their cases reviewed by an appeals court, but if their appeals are rejected they could be hanged as early as the end of July.

How the US sought main players

Ace of Spades

Saddam Hussein — the former Iraqi President, was captured by the Americans on December 13 2003. Executed on December 30, 2006

Ace of Diamonds

Mahmud al-Tikriti — Saddam's senior bodyguard and powerful figure controlling access to the President. Captured June 16, 2003

Ace of Clubs

Qusay Hussein — Saddam’s son, chief of Special Republican Guard and tipped to be Saddam's heir. Killed in Mosul by US forces July 22, 2003

Ace of Hearts

Uday Hussein — Saddam’s eldest son was killed by US forces along with his brother Qusay

King of Spades

Ali Hassan al-Majid — known as “Chemical Ali”, was captured on August 21, 2003. Now sentenced to death

King of Diamonds

Aziz Salih al-Numan — former Governor of occupied Kuwait, captured May 21 2003

King of Clubs

Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri — Declared dead several times, but the former Deputy Iraqi President was named new leader of the Baath Party on January 3, 2007. Speculation continues over whether he is still alive

King of Hearts

Hani abd al-Latif al-Tilfah — Saddam’s nephew and former director of the Special Security Organisation. Still at large.

Source: globalsecurity.org

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