Saddam Hussein, former president of Iraq, was executed by hanging on 30 December 2006 after being convicted of crimes against humanity for the 1982 Dujail massacre, in which 148 Iraqi Shi'ites were killed.
Saddam Hussein at trial, July 2004 — Credit: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq, was executed by hanging on 30 December 2006. He had been sentenced to death by the Iraqi Special Tribunal after being convicted of crimes against humanity in connection with the Dujail massacre, in which 148 Iraqi Shi'ites were killed in the town of Dujail in 1982 in purported retaliation for an assassination attempt on Saddam.
Prior to the execution, Saddam requested to be executed by firing squad rather than hanging, citing his former role as commander-in-chief of the Iraqi military; the court denied this request. Two days before his execution, a letter attributed to Saddam appeared on the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party website, urging Iraqis to unite and to direct anger at decision-makers rather than the peoples of invading countries. His last meal was reported as chicken and rice with hot water and honey.
The execution took place at approximately 05:50–06:10 (UTC+3) on 30 December 2006, the first day of Eid al-Adha, at Camp Justice, a joint Iraqi-U.S. military base in Kazimain, a Baghdad suburb. Saddam was executed alone; his co-defendants Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and Awad Hamed al-Bandar were executed on 15 January 2007, and his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid was hanged on 25 January 2010. U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell stated that once "physical control" of Saddam was transferred to the Iraqi government, U.S. forces had no direct involvement in the execution, and no U.S. representatives were present in the chamber.
Witnesses, including Iraqi National Security Advisor Mowaffak al-Rubaie, described exchanges between Saddam and those present, including chants referencing Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and religious recitations from both Sunni and Shia traditions. Saddam was pronounced dead at 06:03. A claim by a tomb guard that Saddam's body was stabbed six times after death was disputed by the head of Saddam's tribe and denied by al-Rubaie.
Saddam's body was returned to his birthplace of Al-Awja, near Tikrit, and buried on 31 December 2006 near family members, including his sons Uday and Qusay Hussein. The Iraqi government released an official video of the lead-up to the execution, while a separately circulated mobile-phone recording showed the full hanging, including taunts from witnesses; Iraqi authorities arrested a guard suspected of recording it.
The execution drew varied reactions. Human Rights Watch stated it followed a "flawed trial" and marked a step away from the rule of law in Iraq. Amnesty International opposed the death penalty generally and called its use here "especially egregious" given concerns about trial fairness. Other legal observers, including Miranda Sissons and Michael Scharf, defended aspects of the trial's conduct and evidentiary basis. U.S. President George W. Bush later said the execution "looked like it was kind of a revenge killing" and expressed disappointment in how it was handled. Media reports also linked several copycat hanging deaths worldwide, including minors, to coverage of the execution.
148 Iraqi Shi'ites were killed in Dujail in an action later prosecuted as the Dujail massacre.
2006-12-28
A letter attributed to Saddam Hussein appeared on the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party website, two days before his execution.
2006-12-30
Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging at Camp Justice in Kazimain, Baghdad, and pronounced dead at 06:03 local time.
2006-12-31
Saddam's body was returned to Al-Awja, near Tikrit, and buried near family members.
2007-01-03
Iraqi authorities arrested a guard suspected of recording the mobile-phone video of the execution.
2007-01-04
U.S. President George W. Bush stated he wished the execution had gone on in a more dignified way.
2007-01-15
Co-defendants Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and Awad Hamed al-Bandar were executed.
2007-01-16
Bush told Jim Lehrer in an interview that the execution 'looked like it was kind of a revenge killing.'
2007-01-19
Muqtada al-Sadr commented in an interview with La Repubblica on the leaked execution video.
2010-01-25
Saddam's cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid was hanged.
Best coverage
Titles and descriptions are the creators’ own and may not reflect current legal status; see the dossier above for sourced case facts.
VIDEO
Creator
The BRUTAL Final Hours of SADDAM HUSSEIN
VIDEO
Creator
What Really Happened During Saddam Hussein’s Execution
VIDEO
Creator
The execution of Saddam Hussein
VIDEO
Creator
Saddam Hussein's Final Moments: A Shocking Execution
VIDEO
Creator
Saddam Executed
People
Ali Hassan al-Majid
CONVICTED
Saddam's cousin, also sentenced to death; hanged on 25 January 2010.
Mowaffak al-Rubaie
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Iraqi National Security Advisor who witnessed the execution and later addressed claims about the body's treatment and the leaked video investigation.
Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti
CONVICTED
Co-defendant sentenced to death and executed on 15 January 2007.
Awad Hamed al-Bandar
CONVICTED
Co-defendant sentenced to death and executed on 15 January 2007.
Saddam Hussein
CONVICTED
Former President of Iraq, convicted of crimes against humanity by the Iraqi Special Tribunal for the 1982 Dujail massacre and executed by hanging on 30 December 2006.
William Caldwell
LAW ENFORCEMENT
U.S. military spokesman who stated U.S. forces had no direct involvement in the execution once custody was transferred to Iraqi authorities.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Archival records
portrait public figure
Saddam Hussein at trial, July 2004
Credit: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain · Source
archival location
Saddamcapture
Credit: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain · Source
unclassified
Baathist executions
Credit: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain · Source
Saddam Hussein, former president of Iraq, was executed by hanging on 30 December 2006 after being convicted of crimes against humanity for the 1982 Dujail massacre, in which 148 Iraqi Shi'ites were killed.
Where did the crime happen?
Camp Justice, Kazimain, Baghdad, Iraq.
Who was convicted?
Ali Hassan al-Majid (Saddam's cousin, also sentenced to death; hanged on 25 January 2010.), Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti (Co-defendant sentenced to death and executed on 15 January 2007.), Awad Hamed al-Bandar (Co-defendant sentenced to death and executed on 15 January 2007.), and Saddam Hussein (Former President of Iraq, convicted of crimes against humanity by the Iraqi Special Tribunal for the 1982 Dujail massacre and executed by hanging on 30 December 2006.).
When a file you follow changes — a new development, a correction, fresh coverage — the Dispatch is how you hear about it.
The Casepin Dispatch
A calm weekly briefing from the archive — one case worth understanding, meaningful updates to files you follow, and the best new coverage. You’ll also get the one-time note when the apps land. No gore, no rumor, no drip.
