Ali Hassan Al-Majid, commonly known as ‘Chemical Ali’ has been executed on 25 January in Iraq. Ali Al-Majid held many positions in different times, in former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein’s regime. He was former Defense minister, Interior minister, military commander, and chief of Iraqi Intelligence Services (known as Mukhabarat) in Saddam Hussein’s regime. He was also the first cousin of former Iraqi president.
Chemical Ali was captured following the 2003 invasion of Iraq and was charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Ali Al-Majid received death sentence four times. He was first sentenced to hang in June 2007 for his role in the military campaign against ethnic Kurds, which took place between February and August 1988.
In December 2008, he received another death sentence, this time for his part in crushing a Shia revolt after the 1991 Gulf War.
Ali Al-Majid was sentenced to death again in March 2009 for his role in killing and displacing Shia Muslims in 1999, then for a fourth time in January this year for the 1988 gas attack that killed around 5,000 Kurds.
In March 1988, Iraqi jets sprayed over the village of Halabja with a deadly mix of mustard gas and the nerve agents Tabun, Sarin and VX. Thence, Ali Al-Majid earned the name of ‘Chemical Ali’.
Three-quarters of the victims were women and children. It is thought to have been the deadliest gas attack ever carried out against civilians.
Ali Al-Majid was among the very few most trusted people in Saddam’s cabinet. He was known for eliminating Saddam’s haters.
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