On this day July 8, 1982, an assassination attempt was carried out against Iraqi president Saddam Hussein in the town of Dujail, north of Baghdad. The attack occurred as Hussein’s convoy passed through the predominantly Shiite area, where members of the Islamic Dawa Party opened fire in a failed effort to assassinate the dictator.
Though Saddam Hussein was unharmed, his response was swift and brutal. Over the following days and weeks, hundreds of residents of Dujail were arrested, tortured, and executed, including children. Entire families were detained, and properties were destroyed in a campaign of collective punishment. The massacre remained one of the most well documented acts of repression under Hussein’s regime.
Years later, this event would become central to the case against Saddam Hussein during his trial following the fall of his government.
80s insight: The Dujail incident revealed the extreme lengths Saddam Hussein would go to maintain power and set the tone for the brutality that defined his rule.
Though Saddam Hussein was unharmed, his response was swift and brutal. Over the following days and weeks, hundreds of residents of Dujail were arrested, tortured, and executed, including children. Entire families were detained, and properties were destroyed in a campaign of collective punishment. The massacre remained one of the most well documented acts of repression under Hussein’s regime.
Years later, this event would become central to the case against Saddam Hussein during his trial following the fall of his government.
80s insight: The Dujail incident revealed the extreme lengths Saddam Hussein would go to maintain power and set the tone for the brutality that defined his rule.
