Taha Yassin Ramadan, Iraqi politician, Vice President of Iraq (b. 1938)

Taha Yasin Ramadan al-Jizrawi, whose full Arabic name was طه ياسين رمضان الجزراوي, was a prominent and controversial figure in Iraqi politics for decades. Born on February 22, 1938, this Iraqi politician and military officer of Kurdish origin served at the very heart of the Saddam Hussein regime, holding significant power until its eventual collapse in 2003.

A Key Figure in Saddam Hussein's Iraq

Ramadan's career was marked by his unwavering loyalty and ascent through the ranks of the Ba'athist government. From March 1991, he served as one of the three Vice Presidents of Iraq, a critical role that positioned him among the highest echelons of power during a turbulent period for the nation, marked by international sanctions and regional conflicts. He held this influential position right up until the dramatic fall of Saddam Hussein's government in April 2003, an event that reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.

The Most-Wanted Deck and Capture

Following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and the subsequent collapse of the regime, Taha Yasin Ramadan found himself on a notorious list: the U.S. list of most-wanted Iraqis. To aid identification by coalition forces and the public, the U.S. military produced a deck of playing cards, each featuring a picture and details of a wanted Iraqi official. Ramadan was famously depicted as the Ten of Diamonds, signifying his perceived importance to the fallen regime. His freedom was short-lived; on August 19, 2003, he was captured in Mosul by fighters from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), a prominent Kurdish political party and militia group that had long opposed Saddam's rule. He was subsequently handed over to U.S. forces, marking the end of his time in hiding.

Capture, Trial, and Conviction

Ramadan's capture led to his inclusion among the high-profile defendants in the Iraq Special Tribunal's Al-Dujail trial. This tribunal was established to prosecute members of the former regime for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. The Al-Dujail trial specifically focused on the 1982 massacre of 148 Shi'ite men and boys from the town of Dujail, in retaliation for an assassination attempt on Saddam Hussein.

On November 5, 2006, the tribunal delivered its initial verdict, sentencing Ramadan to life imprisonment for his role in the Dujail killings. However, this was not the end of his legal saga. On December 26, 2006, an appeals court reviewed the case and astonishingly ruled that the life sentence was too lenient, demanding instead a death sentence. The case was sent back to the Tribunal for reconsideration of the penalty. Following this directive, on February 12, 2007, Taha Yasin Ramadan was definitively sentenced to death by hanging.

The Final Verdict and Execution

The sentence was carried out on March 20, 2007, just before dawn. Poignantly, this date coincided with the fourth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, a powerful and somber symbolic end to a chapter in Iraq's tumultuous history. His execution, alongside other senior figures of the former regime, underscored the new government's efforts to hold those responsible for past atrocities accountable and to draw a line under the era of Saddam Hussein.

Frequently Asked Questions About Taha Yasin Ramadan

Who was Taha Yasin Ramadan?

Taha Yasin Ramadan al-Jizrawi was an Iraqi politician and military officer of Kurdish origin who served as one of Saddam Hussein's Vice Presidents from 1991 until the regime's collapse in 2003.

What was his role in Saddam Hussein's government?

He was a high-ranking official, notably serving as one of the three Vice Presidents of Iraq for over a decade, indicating his close ties and importance within the inner circle of the Saddam Hussein regime.

When and where was he captured?

Taha Yasin Ramadan was captured on August 19, 2003, in Mosul, by fighters from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), who subsequently handed him over to U.S. forces.

What was the Al-Dujail trial?

The Al-Dujail trial was a proceeding of the Iraq Special Tribunal where former members of Saddam Hussein's regime, including Ramadan, were tried for crimes against humanity related to the 1982 massacre of 148 Shi'ite civilians in the town of Dujail.

What was his ultimate fate?

After being initially sentenced to life imprisonment, an appeals court demanded a harsher penalty. Taha Yasin Ramadan was subsequently sentenced to death by hanging and executed on March 20, 2007.