Watan-For the first time, the private memoirs of the late Iraqi President Saddam Hussein were released from prison before his execution in 2006, after nearly 18 years since his death.
Raghad Saddam Hussein, his daughter, published a portion of those memoirs on her official (X) platform account, indicating that she will gradually release the rest.
Saddam Hussein’s memoirs
Saddam Hussein’s memoirs, in which he recounts the full details of his days spent in the American prison in Iraq up until his execution, drew attention from his daughter Raghad, who mentioned that she had been preparing to publish them in full in a book, but encountered publishing concerns regarding this matter.
His daughter published Saddam Hussein’s memoirs in parts and shared 40 photos, which she said represent a “very small part” of her late father’s memoirs during his captivity.
According to these photos, Saddam Hussein narrates in his memoirs aspects of his health condition at the time and the illnesses he was suffering from.
كل عام والأمة العربية بخير، الأمة التي طالما كانت الأهم في مسيرتك النضالية، إلا أن الأمة ليست بخير والعراق ليس بخير يا أبي، فقد تكالبت عليها الأمم، إلا إنني وعدتك أن يكون #العراق بخير بإذن الله، واليوم قررت أن أبدأ بنشر جزء صغير من مذكراتك بطريقتي، لأن دور النشر لديها “محاذير من… pic.twitter.com/aCBVSs66wo
— رغد صدام حسين (@RghadSaddam) April 27, 2024
He detailed many aspects of how the American soldiers and officers treated him in prison, as well as his daily routine regarding food, drink, and time spent in the exercise area.
Raghad Saddam Hussein commented, ‘Every year, the Arab nation is well, the nation that has always been the most important in your struggle, yet the nation is not well, and Iraq is not well, my father, as nations have conspired against it. However, I promised you that Iraq will be well, God willing, and today I decided to start by publishing a small part of your memoirs in my own way.’
She attributed this to, ‘because of the publishing concerns she faces, and today is an important day for many of your admirers and others.’
The daughter of the late Iraqi President continued, ‘To them, we dedicate your special memoirs, which you wrote while in American custody in Iraq. To you, my father, all the reverence and appreciation, O brave hero, to the eternal gardens, O lofty flag.’
Saddam Hussein’s memoirs, as seen in the attached photos shared by his daughter Raghad through a tweet, also included poetic verses describing the late Iraqi president’s situation and the country’s situation during the days of the American invasion.
The memoirs also included Saddam Hussein’s description of some of the resistance battles against the American invasion, which he heard while in the prison’s outer courtyard – the walking period – allowed.
— رغد صدام حسين (@RghadSaddam) April 27, 2024
Saddam also talked about his transfers from the prison to the courtroom throughout his trial, which used to be done by cars, but suddenly he started going to court by plane, which made him think about the reason and analyze the situation.
Saddam Hussein: Subjected to violent assault during my arrest
Saddam concluded that it was due to security precautions because of the intensification of resistance battles against the Americans and fear of their attacks.
Saddam Hussein also revealed that he suffered a hernia due to the assault he endured from the Americans on the first day of his arrest.
He wrote, as mentioned in the memoirs, ‘When I asked the doctors about anything and the reason for getting a hernia… the American doctor said it’s from lifting heavy objects or constipation that requires pressure to expel the muscles.’
He continued, ‘But I suspect that it could be from abdominal strain, as I endured strong abdominal strain as a result of the beating inflicted by the invaders against me on the first day of my arrest.’
It’s worth noting that three years after his arrest in 2003 and his trial by the American invaders, Saddam Hussein’s execution was carried out on December 30, 2006, which coincided with Eid al-Adha that year. This event sparked widespread anger among Arabs and caused significant controversy at the time.”