On a silent night, Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi leader who once moved the world, spent the longest and darkest night of his life.
The walls of the prison, though heavy, could not stop the biting cold wind and the cruel ridicule of the guards.
It was his last night before he was hanged, a night of pain and despair, but also a night of dignity and faith.
At night, Saddam Hussein's figure was particularly isolated in his cell.
His face no longer bears the majesty of the time he once had at the height of power, only the deep traces of time and predicament.
The guards continued to insult and torture him, and although his body was plagued by sleepiness, his spirit seemed to remain indestructible.
During this long night, Saddam Hussein made an important decision to pass on a message to his daughter who was far away.
Saddam's Life in Prison: The Beginning of a Period of Suffering
Saddam Hussein, a leader who once shook the world, fundamentally changed his fortunes after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.
After his arrest, Saddam's daily life changed drastically, and he was housed in a small, dark, damp, windowless room.
The room had only a heavy iron door, the walls were covered in faded paint, and the only furniture in the room was a narrow iron bed and a small old table.
The light in the room was dim, barely illuminating the small space. When night falls, the lights in the room become dimmer, making the whole space seem more oppressive.
Saddam's life was tightly controlled, and his every move was closely monitored by guards. Every day, the guards brought food and water at regular intervals, but their communication with Saddam Hussein was extremely limited, limiting them to necessary instructions and answers.
Food was usually simple military rations, accompanied by water. When Saddam Hussein received the food, the guards always maintained a cold expression and avoided any unnecessary communication.
In such an environment, Saddam Hussein was forced to adapt to this lonely and boring life.
One of the daily tasks of the guards is to ensure Saddam's safety in case he commits suicide or is rescued by outside forces.
As a result, they regularly inspect Saddam's room to make sure that nothing could be used as a tool for self-harm or escape.
These examinations were usually quick and thorough, and the guards barely spoke to Saddam Hussein during the search, only completing the task mechanically.
Psychological and physical torture
Saddam's life in prison was closely monitored, and every detail was controlled by US military guards.
In the room, the only source of light is a dim light bulb that hangs from the ceiling in the corner of the room, emitting a faint light.
The light was not enough to illuminate the entire room, barely enough to illuminate Saddam's bed and table.
The walls of the room were dark gray, there were no windows on all sides except for the door, and the air was filled with a musty and damp smell.
The guards deliberately made noise outside Saddam's door when the shift was handed over.
They talk and laugh loudly, bang on the door frame, and sometimes even kick the door, making a loud noise.
This noise was especially frequent at night, often interrupting Saddam's sleep.
Sometimes, they would also play high-decibel music outside the door, and the sound would reverberate through the cracks in the door and reverberate through the dimly lit room.
In this environment, Saddam's health began to deteriorate. Due to chronic sleep deprivation and malnutrition, his body became increasingly thin. His face was pale and he had deep dark circles under his eyes.
Due to the lack of sunlight and fresh air, his skin became dry and sometimes cracked.
In this continuous physical and mental torture, Saddam's physical condition deteriorated.
He began to experience some symptoms of physical discomfort such as persistent headaches, stomach pains, and muscle pain. But the guards were not concerned about his health, and he did not receive any special medical attention other than regular medical check-ups.
Due to long periods of loneliness and isolation, Saddam's life became monotonous and uninteresting.
He spends most of his time in bed, occasionally pacing around his room to relieve physical discomfort. His daily activities are very limited, with little to do other than eat and sleep.
At the same time, interrogations by U.S. military forces continued. The interrogation usually took place in another room, where Saddam Hussein was taken to face the interrogators of the US military.
Interrogation and arrogance
In the interrogation room, Saddam Hussein was confronted by a line of serious U.S. military officers. They were dressed in military uniforms and had no expression on their faces. The room was simply furnished, with only a table and a few chairs.
Saddam Hussein sat in a corner of the room, opposite an interrogator. The light was focused on Saddam, making him the only focal point in the room.
The questions of the interrogators were direct and pointed, and they tried to obtain information about weapons of mass destruction from Saddam.
The inquisitor asked, "Where do you hide weapons of mass destruction?"
Saddam Hussein was silent for a moment, then calmly replied: "I don't have what you're looking for." ”
Not satisfied with this answer, the inquisitor raised his voice and asked again, "Tell us the truth, where are your weapons hidden?"
Saddam Hussein replied again: "There are no weapons like you mentioned." ”
Over and over again for the next few hours, the interrogator kept repeating the same question, but each time Saddam Hussein answered the same question.
The tone of the interrogators became more and more harsh, but Saddam's attitude remained unchanged.
They tried to oppress him by all means, but none of them seemed to be able to shake his resolve.
Over time, the inquisitors began to change tactics, and they tried to induce Saddam to cooperate by providing food and better living conditions.
However, Saddam Hussein ignored these proposals, and his answer remained the same.
The inquisitors' tactics seem to have had no effect on Saddam.
During these interrogations, Saddam Hussein was taken to different rooms, each with a different layout.
Sometimes, they would place some maps of Iraq in the room in an attempt to get Saddam Hussein to point out where the weapons were hidden.
But Saddam Hussein just sat quietly and never gave any indication of these maps.
During the interrogation, U.S. military officials also tried to use psychological tactics, such as mentioning Saddam's family and his political status. But these topics did not seem to affect Saddam, who remained silent and calm.
No matter how hard the interrogators tried, Saddam Hussein did not reveal any of the information they wanted.
After weeks of continuous interrogation, U.S. military officials began to get frustrated. They are repeating the same procedure every day, but no progress is made.
Saddam's resistance seemed to render their efforts meaningless. During these interrogations, Saddam Hussein always maintained a consistent attitude.
Eventually, the inquisitors had to accept the fact that they could not get the information they needed from Saddam. Despite the use of various means, Saddam Hussein held his ground and did not give in to any pressure.
This process not only demonstrated Saddam's resolute attitude, but also reflected some of the controversial methods adopted by the US military in the Iraq war.
Judgment and the Last Hour
On that cold winter day in 2006, Saddam Hussein's fate came to an end.
After a lengthy interrogation and investigation of Saddam Hussein, the United States did not find any evidence of weapons of mass destruction.
On December 29, Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by hanging. The news quickly spread throughout the prison and eventually to Saddam's ears.
In the days after the verdict was announced, Saddam's life did not change as a result.
He was still held in that dim, damp cell, facing indifferent guards and a dull life of captivity every day. However, from the moment he learned of his fate, there was a subtle change in Saddam's behavior.
He asked the guards for a copy of the Quran, one of the few he had in prison.
After some discussion, the guards finally decided to grant his request.
Soon, a worn-out copy of the Koran was sent to Saddam's cell. Saddam Hussein took the Quran and began to read it quietly. He slowly searched for something between the pages, and finally stopped on a blank page.
Saddam Hussein picked up the only pencil in his cell and scribbled a few lines on a blank page of the Koran. His handwriting is firm and fluent, and every word is written very carefully. In the book, he wrote his last words to his daughter: "Your father is a martyr who died for Iraq".
When he finished writing, he closed the Quran and took a deep breath.
Saddam Hussein then handed the Quran to a guard and asked him to pass it on to his daughter.
The warden took the Quran and did not speak, but nodded. For the remainder of Saddam's time, the attitude of the guards changed.
Some guards began to mock, verbally abuse and even beat Saddam. In the face of these insults, Saddam Hussein simply endured them in silence and did not put up any resistance.
Finally, the day came when Saddam Hussein was hanged.
Early that morning, several armed guards took Saddam Hussein out of his cell and escorted him to the gallows.
Along the way, prison inmates and guards watched the former Iraqi leader. Saddam Hussein was pushed onto the gallows, his eyes calm and his gaze straight ahead.
In the last moments before the hanging, Saddam Hussein opened his mouth and said: "Iraq is worthless without me." The words echoed in the quiet of the gallows, and then were swallowed up by the tense atmosphere of the execution ground. The mechanism of the gallows was activated, and Saddam's life came to an end.
After Saddam's execution, the situation in Iraq did not change for the better. Instead, the country was plunged into deeper chaos and turmoil.
Saddam's prophecy seems to have come true to some extent: without his leadership, Iraq has indeed become more lonely and chaotic. This once powerful country is now left with endless war and suffering.
Journal of Central South University:Social Sciences,2007,13(2):125-130