One of the most controversial figures in Iraq’s history, Saddam Hussein attracted attention not only for his military and political aspects, but also for his symbolic actions. In the late 1990s, especially on his 60th birthday, the Quran he had written with his own blood became an indication of how much Saddam’s power had become a personal and ideological symbol.
This particular work has provoked deep debate within Iraq’s complex political and cultural heritage, revealing how Saddam connected to his religious beliefs and how he defined himself. This work, which is still kept in a special room today, The Holy QuranIt continues to exist as a striking legacy reflecting the traces and debates of Saddam’s era.
Who Is Saddam Hussein? A Turning Point in Iraq’s Chaotic History
Saddam Hussein was an Iraqi politician who transformed from a young revolutionary who took Iraq far beyond its surrounding Arab countries into a ruthless dictator. Saddam Hussein was born on April 28, 1937. Tikrit city of IraqHe was born in and served as the country’s fifth president.
Saddam HusseinAfter his father disappeared a few months before he was born, his older brother died of cancer, and his mother fell into depression, he was sent to Baghdad at the age of 3 to live with his uncle, Khairallah Talfah. In 1957, at the age of 20, he joined the Baath Party and became an important member of this party, which aimed to unite the Arab states. On October 7, 1959, he was wounded in the leg during an assassination attempt on the then President of Iraq, Abdel Karim Qasim, and fled to Syria and then Egypt.
In 1963, after Qasim’s regime was overthrown, he returned to Iraq and remained in prison until 1966. Saddam, who was politically active in prison, managed to escape in a short time and increased his political power. In the Baath Coup of 1968, he came to power together with Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr and became vice president.
Saddam made a fortune by improving Iraq’s infrastructure, education and health systems. In 1979, he became president by forcing al-Bakr to resign and immediately presented a list of 68 people in the Baath Party, dismissing and executing many.
Saddam invaded the Khuzestan region of Iran on September 22, 1980, but Western countries turned a blind eye to the invasion and use of chemical weapons. Gulf War Afterwards, the Iraqi economy was hit hard and Saddam faced international sanctions when he invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990. A ceasefire was reached with US-led coalition forces on January 15, 1991.
Saddam’s government violently suppressed Shiite and Kurdish uprisings in the 1990s and violated the UN no-fly zone in 1993. In 2002, US President George W. Bush accused Iraq of developing weapons of mass destruction and “the center of evil” On March 20, 2003, the US-led coalition invaded Iraq, overthrowing the government and army.
Saddam managed to escape after the fall of Baghdad on April 9, 2003, and was captured in a bunker near Tikrit on December 13, 2003. Executed on December 30, 2006 and was buried in the village of Evce where he was born on December 31, 2006.
The Holy Quran Written by Saddam Hussein in His Own Blood
A special Quran, completed as a result of approximately two years of work in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, was originally supposed to be exhibited in a museum. Umm al-Qura MosqueThe most striking feature of this Holy Quran, which dates back to the Saddam Hussein era and has been a subject of debate in Iraqi politics from time to time, is that Written in Saddam Hussein’s own blood.
Led by the USA in 1991 Operation Desert Storm Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, was forcibly removed from Kuwait and whose army suffered heavy losses when it was invaded by an international coalition led by the USA in 2003, ending Saddam’s 24-year rule.
Shortly after entering Baghdad, US troops began tearing down the statue of Saddam in Firdevs Square, which was one of the most powerful symbols of the beginning of a new era in Iraq. However, despite this new era, traces of Saddam’s rule that have not been erased to this day continue to exist in some corners of Iraq.
27 Liters of Blood Were Taken from Saddam Hussein’s Body
As the calendar approached the end of the 1990s, a statement that surprised everyone came from Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who had lost a large part of his army in a heavy blow from the international coalition forces led by the USA in 1991.
In 1997 Saddam Hussein celebrates his 60th birthdaybecause he was saved from many dangers To express gratitude to Godordered a Quran to be written in his own blood. According to some, Saddam, who had adopted a more religious identity after the failed assassination attempt on his eldest son and heir Uday Hussein, quickly fulfilled this request.
For this purpose, samples were taken from Saddam Hussein’s body at regular intervals. 27 liters of blood, It was delivered to the calligrapher Abbas Shakir Joudi al-Baghdadi. After a long work, Abbas approximately He completed the 600-page Holy Quran and delivered it to Saddam Hussein.
After the completion of the Quran and its delivery to Saddam Hussein, Saddam gave a speech on Iraqi state television, “Throughout my life, I have experienced many events where my blood had to be shed, but very little of my blood was shed. Therefore, in order to thank Allah, I asked a calligrapher to write a Quran with my blood.” He used the expressions.
Saddam’s move was condemned by many countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and various religious authorities made statements emphasizing that this action was not right.
Ongoing Debates About the Reality of Blood
After the US invasion of Iraq and the end of the Saddam regime, calligrapher Abbas Shakir Joudi al-Baghdadi left Iraq and settled in the US, changing his surname to “Joudi”. In his speeches in the US, Confirmed that a Quran was written with 26 to 27 litres of blood taken from Saddam’s body; however, the accuracy of this event continued to be questioned by many.
According to some claims, not all of the blood used belonged to Saddam and blood taken from more than one person The world press, which started to investigate the issue, followed these claims closely. On December 14, 2002, David Blair, a reporter from the British-based Telegraph Newspaper, reported that Saddam Hussein donated 3 litres of blood over two years and that the Quran was mixed with this blood. with special chemicals stated that it was written.
The Traces He Left Caused Controversy
Saddam Hussein, who was overthrown from power in 2003, was captured by US military troops while hiding in a farmhouse near his birthplace of Tikrit on 13 December 2003. Held at a US base near Baghdad International Airport with 11 other senior Baath Party leaders until June 2004, Saddam Hussein was handed over to the Iraqi government on 29 June 2004.
Appearing before the Iraqi Special Court, established by the Iraqi Interim Government following the invasion of Iraq, on June 30, 2004 Saddam was tried for crimes against humanity, murder, torture and illegal detention and was sentenced to death. Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging at 6:00 a.m. on the first day of Eid al-Adha, 30 December 2006, north of Baghdad.
After Saddam’s execution, the traces left from his era began to be discussed again. Among these traces are the special notes written at Saddam’s request. The Holy Quran This work is still at the centre of debate as part of Saddam’s legacy.
No Decision Has Been Made Yet About What To Do
In December 2010, international news agencies reported that the Quran, written at the request of Saddam Hussein, was having an impact on Iraqi politics. a controversial issue American Blood Centers Vice President Celso Bianco wrote an article on the subject and stated that the claim that Saddam donated 27 pints of blood in just two years was not credible.
A symbolic mosque during the Saddam era Umm al-Qura MosqueThis Quran, written in blood, was decided to be kept under lock and key in a special room in the basement of the building and continues to be kept in the same room today. However, it is known that the Quran is closed to visitors and can only be viewed with special permission.
It is alleged that there are three keys to this special room, and that these keys are kept by a religious official, the city’s police chief and an unknown third person. It is said that those who want to see the Quran must obtain special permission from the Iraqi government.
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