Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti

Hussein Rashid Mohammed al-Tikriti (Arabic: حسين رشيد محمد التكريتي) is a former Iraqi military commander, who formerly served as the General Secretary of the General Command of the Armed Forces of Iraq.

Hussein Rashid Mohammed al-Tikriti
Native name
حسين رشيد محمد التكريتي
Born1940 (age 80–81)
Khezamia, Tikrit, Kingdom of Iraq
Allegiance Iraq
Service/branchIraqi Army
Years of service1962-2003
Battles/wars

Early life

Rashid was born in the town of Khezamia, near Tikrit, in 1940. He received his primary and secondary education in Tikrit.

Career

Rashid joined the military, and graduated from the Iraqi Military Academy in 1962 with a Bachelor's in military science. He graduated from the Iraqi Joint Staff College in 1968 with a Master's degree in military science. He also later received a PhD in the same field.

Iraqi Special Tribunal

Following the 2003 Invasion of Iraq Rashid was one of several individuals indicted by the Iraqi Special Tribunal for war crimes. Specifically Rashid was charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity relating to possible war crimes carried out against the Kurds during the al-Anfal campaign in 1988.[1] At the time of the campaign Rashid was serving as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Armed Forces.[2]

The trial began on 21 August 2006 and concluded on 24 June 2007, with Rashid, alongside several others, being found guilty and sentenced to death for war crimes and crimes against humanity.[1] In total Rashid was sentenced to three death sentences.[2] After his sentence was read out Rashid, alongside fellow former General Sultan Hashim Ahmad al-Tai, spoke out. As a result the chief judge, Mohammed Ureibi al-Khalifa, ordered that they should be quickly removed from the court. Rashid reportedly shouted “Thanks be to God, we are being executed because we defended our country against thieves and criminals. We defended Iraq.”[2]

On 3 October 2007 the Iraqi authorities decided to postpone the date of Rashid's execution. On 28 February 2008 a three member Iraqi Presidential Council agreed to the execution of Ali Hassan al-Majid, however did not approve of the execution of either Rashid or Sultan Hashim Ahmad al-Tai.[1] The Council reportedly argued that Tai and Rashid should not be executed as, being military personnel at the time, they were merely following orders.[3]

On 2 December 2008 Rashid was given a further life sentence for his role in the 1991 uprising in Iraq.[3]

On 14 July 2011 Rashid, along with numerous other former high-ranking officials, were transferred from US to Iraqi custody. Rashid had been being detained at Camp Cropper near Baghdad International Airport. Following the transfer several Iraqi lawmakers renewed their calls on the Presidency to not approve the executions. President Talabani had authorized his Shi'ite Vice President Khudair al-Khuzaie to sign the verdict.[4]

Personal life

Rashid is married and has three children.

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-04-07. Retrieved 2014-01-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Burns, John F. (25 June 2007). "Hussein Cousin Sentenced to Die for Kurd Attacks". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  3. "Turkmenistan". Amnesty.org. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  4. "Iraqi lawmakers against execution of top officials in Saddam regime". News.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
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