Barzan Ibrahim Hassan al-Tikriti: Saddam Hussein's Intelligence Chief and Controversial Figure

Barzan Ibrahim Hassan al-Tikriti (17 February 1951 – 15 January 2007), known by various names including Barazan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, Barasan Ibrahem Alhassen, and Barzan Hassan, was a profoundly influential and controversial figure within Saddam Hussein's regime. As one of Saddam Hussein's three half-brothers, his familial proximity afforded him immense power and a central role in the Iraqi political landscape.

From 1979 to 1983, Barzan held the powerful position of chief of the Mukhabarat, the notorious Iraqi intelligence service, formally known as the Jihaz al-Mukhabarat al-Amma. Under his leadership, the Mukhabarat functioned as the principal instrument for maintaining Saddam's authoritarian grip on power, responsible for internal security, suppression of political dissent, and extensive surveillance of the populace. During his tenure, the organization was widely documented to have committed grave human rights abuses, including systematic torture, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings against perceived enemies of the state.

Despite his close kinship and significant contributions to the regime, Barzan experienced a temporary period of disfavour with Saddam in the mid-1980s, reportedly due to internal power struggles or disagreements over family matters. This led to his relocation to Geneva, Switzerland, where he served as Iraq's permanent representative to the United Nations European headquarters. However, by the time of his capture by U.S. forces in Baghdad in April 2003, Barzan was widely believed to have been reinstated as a close and trusted presidential adviser, leveraging his deep understanding of the regime's inner workings and secrets.

Following his apprehension, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti was put on trial before the Iraqi Special Tribunal, facing charges of crimes against humanity. He was specifically convicted for his direct involvement in the brutal retaliatory measures taken after the 1982 assassination attempt on Saddam Hussein in Dujail. This crackdown resulted in the execution of 143 Shi'ite men and boys from the town. On 15 January 2007, Barzan was executed by hanging in Baghdad. His execution gained international notoriety not only for the gravity of his crimes but also due to the harrowing manner of his death; he was decapitated by the hangman's rope. This gruesome outcome was officially attributed to a critical miscalculation of his body weight and the required length of the drop from the gallows, indicating a severe procedural error in the execution process.

Awad Hamad al-Bandar: The Head of Saddam's Revolutionary Court and Enforcer of Justice

Awad Hamad al-Bandar (2 January 1945 – 15 January 2007), also known as Awad Hamad Bandar Alsa'doon, held the pivotal role of a chief judge in Iraq during the dictatorial rule of Saddam Hussein. A devoted member of the ruling Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, al-Bandar's judicial career was inextricably linked to the political objectives and repressive machinery of the Ba'athist regime.

His most defining and infamous position was as the head of the Revolutionary Court, a judicial body established by Saddam Hussein's government that operated outside the conventional legal framework. This court was widely condemned by international human rights organizations for its profound lack of independence and disregard for due process. Instead of upholding justice impartially, it functioned primarily as an instrument of political repression, used to swiftly convict and punish perceived opponents of the state through summary trials that often lacked credible evidence or adherence to fundamental legal standards.

Awad Hamad al-Bandar's conviction for crimes against humanity was directly tied to his presiding role in the aftermath of the failed assassination attempt on President Saddam Hussein in Dujail, a Shi'ite town, on 8 July 1982. In response to this attack, the Ba'athist regime unleashed a campaign of disproportionate and brutal retribution against the town's residents. As the head of the Revolutionary Court, al-Bandar oversaw the proceedings that resulted in the issuance of death sentences for 143 Dujail residents, including numerous teenagers and children, for their alleged involvement or collective punishment. These mass executions constituted a severe violation of international law and human rights.

On 15 January 2007, Awad Hamad al-Bandar was executed by hanging in Baghdad for his complicity in the Dujail massacre and other crimes against humanity. Notably, his execution occurred on the same day as that of Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, reinforcing the judicial accountability of key figures within the former regime for the atrocities committed under Saddam Hussein's oppressive rule.

Frequently Asked Questions about Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and Awad Hamad al-Bandar

Who was Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti?

Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti was one of Saddam Hussein's half-brothers and served as the influential head of the Mukhabarat, Iraq's principal intelligence service, from 1979 to 1983.

What was the Mukhabarat?

The Mukhabarat, or Jihaz al-Mukhabarat al-Amma, was the primary intelligence and internal security agency of Saddam Hussein's regime, widely known for its role in suppressing dissent and committing extensive human rights abuses to maintain the dictator's power.

Why was Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti executed?

He was convicted of crimes against humanity by the Iraqi Special Tribunal, primarily for his significant role in the Dujail massacre of 1982, where 143 Shi'ite residents were executed following a failed assassination attempt on Saddam Hussein.

What was unusual about Barzan's execution?

During his hanging on January 15, 2007, Barzan was decapitated by the hangman's rope. This rare and gruesome event was attributed to critical errors in calculating his body weight and the required length of the drop from the gallows.

Who was Awad Hamad al-Bandar?

Awad Hamad al-Bandar was a prominent Iraqi chief judge under Saddam Hussein, most notably serving as the head of the Revolutionary Court, a judicial body primarily used to prosecute and suppress perceived enemies of the state.

What was the Revolutionary Court?

The Revolutionary Court under Saddam Hussein's regime was a special judicial body known for conducting swift, politically motivated trials and issuing harsh sentences, often death penalties, with little regard for due process or human rights, primarily targeting those deemed disloyal to the state.

Why was Awad Hamad al-Bandar executed?

He was executed for crimes against humanity, specifically for his role in authorizing the death sentences for 143 Dujail residents in 1982, following the failed assassination attempt on Saddam Hussein.

When were Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and Awad Hamad al-Bandar executed?

Both Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and Awad Hamad al-Bandar were executed by hanging on the same day, 15 January 2007, for their respective roles in the Dujail massacre and other crimes against humanity.