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Text: Fang Fang
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introduction
Regardless of whether the posthumous evaluation is merit or demerit, the history of the Middle East is destined to never forget the name of Saddam Hussein.
Hailed as the toughest leader in Iraq's history, he has a very legendary life. He was an extreme nationalist, and some called him a hero of the Arab world.
(Saddam Hussein at the height of his political career)
In the eyes of these people, Saddam Hussein was a hero who dared to use force against foreign invaders. After he came to power, Iraq's international status changed. In addition, he also actively developed agriculture and introduced a large number of advanced foreign technologies.
He advocated the unification of the Arab world, introduced free medical care and compulsory education in the country, and for a time made Iraq's economic development quite large.
During his reign, Saddam Hussein launched the Iran-Iraq War and the two Gulf Wars one after another, not only dragging Iraq into the quagmire of war, but was eventually captured and sentenced to death by the United States.
(Saddam Hussein after his arrest)
But what is surprising is that during the detention of this "anti-American fighter", even if the United States tortured him, he refused to admit his guilt and did not commit suicide.
What is the reason for this?
1. He waged wars many times and was eventually captured by the United States
During Saddam's administration, he waged wars many times, and the cause of the eight-year-long Iran-Iraq war was not only territorial disputes, but also religious disputes that Saddam Hussein thought was even more intolerable.
(War Photos)
The war has hit both Iraq and Iran hard, especially Iraq, which has been saddled with huge debts because of the war, and Iraq's foreign exchange reserves reached $37 billion before the war, which is a good number, but after the war it became more than minus $70 billion.
Huge debts were an important reason for Saddam Hussein's war in Kuwait, and he sent troops to try to annex Kuwait. Later, it was resisted by the United States and other countries, which is also the first Gulf War that we often say.
Obviously, Saddam Hussein did not reap the expected benefits in this war, and even after the war, he was subject to economic sanctions by Western countries led by the United States, which also caused the post-war Iraqi economy to further collapse.
(Kuwait at war)
Of course, the hard-line Saddam Hussein was not reconciled to this, so he agreed with the United Nations on "oil for food", and in order to retaliate against the United States, he also exchanged the settlement currency for euros. The United States, of course, did not accept such an outcome and launched the Iraq War, that is, the Second Gulf War, on the grounds that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.
This time it was completely killing Saddam, and the U.S. military launched war in March 2003 and arrested him near Tikrit in December of that year.
2. Mental and physical humiliation during detention
After his arrest, Saddam Hussein experienced both mental and physical oppression, and in the limited photos that have been leaked, we can see that the former lion of the Middle East and anti-American fighter is wearing only a pair of underwear and a star-striped banner for people to see. It can be seen that he has no dignity and privacy in prison, which can be imagined how cruel this is for a strong old man.
(Photo leaked after Saddam's arrest)
It is said that after his arrest, his son was also killed, and the U.S. military even put a photo of his son's tragic death in front of him for him to see.
Of course, in order to make him confess, torture is indispensable, but such a trick that has long collapsed on the body of an ordinary person does not seem to have much effect on Saddam, and he always refuses to admit his guilt.
After three years in captivity, Saddam Hussein was sentenced to be hanged, and until he reached the gallows, he remained fearless, the rope was around his neck, and he still refused to wear a hood.
(Saddam Hussein was hanged)
3. All kinds of inhuman treatment, why didn't Saddam Hussein choose to commit suicide?
One of the reasons why Saddam Hussein did not choose to commit suicide was speculated to be religious belief.
At an early age, the teachings of Islam were deeply embedded in his mind, and in Islam suicide was absolutely forbidden, and it was even a felony equivalent to murder.
The Qur'an says: "Do not kill yourselves, for Allah has mercy on you." Whoever commits this prohibition for transgression and injustice, We will cast him into Hell, and it will be easy for Allah. ”
(Muslim)
This means that life is not entirely personal, but Allah's gift to people, and it is a test in good times and bad. Suicide, on the other hand, breaks this arrangement, and is a condemnation and denial of Allah's life-giving life.
Therefore, if you commit the grave sin of suicide against the command of Allah, it does not mean that it will end when you die, but you will be thrown into Hell to be tortured after death.
In addition to religious beliefs, Saddam's political dignity as president of Iraq did not allow him to choose the path of suicide.
(U.S. forces in the Iraq War)
Saddam Hussein once said that if he committed suicide like that, it would be a meaningless act and would be tantamount to a reckless man. In his view, suicide is tantamount to a surrender, a denial of his political career.
Of course, not committing suicide may also be due to his political stance, and this kind of behavior cannot give an explanation to his former people. Saddam Hussein was not afraid of death, and this was clearly demonstrated at the time of his execution. When the executioner's hands trembled because of fear, Saddam Hussein also comforted him not to be afraid.
In court, his rhetoric was more of a call for the Iraqi people not to be deceived and used as tools, but to unite. Facts have also proved that after Saddam's death, Iraq fell into war and chaos.
(Saddam Hussein's first appearance in court called the trial a farce)
In addition, the close monitoring of the US military is also one of the reasons, and the US military has even prepared a special mental health team to keep an eye on possible signs of suicide on his body.
Whether it is defending in court or arousing attention and discussion in the international community, it is to fight for one's own life and realize one's political ambitions. It can be said that this old man fought to the last moment with hope, in this case, how could he choose to commit suicide?
(Saddam Hussein)
Resources:
百度百科.萨达姆·侯赛因. [OL].
Baidu Encyclopedia.Kuwait War. [OL].
Baidu Encyclopedia.Gulf War. [OL].
Iraq War. [OL].
How to evaluate Saddam? [OL].2006.12.30.
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988 local war between Iran and Iraq)
Saddam Hussein still claims to be the legitimate president of Iraq and refuses to admit guilt. [OL].2004.09.20.