Saddam Hussein died by execution by hanging on December 30, 2006, after being convicted of crimes against humanity by an Iraqi tribunal.

Quick Scoop: What Happened

  • Saddam Hussein, former president of Iraq, was captured by U.S. forces in December 2003 near Tikrit after going into hiding during the Iraq War.
  • He was tried before the Iraqi High Tribunal for crimes against humanity, mainly linked to the 1982 Dujail massacre and related abuses such as willful killing, illegal imprisonment, deportation, and torture.
  • In November 2006, the court found him guilty and sentenced him to death by hanging under Iraqi law.
  • The sentence was carried out shortly after the sentence was upheld: he was hanged at Camp Justice in Baghdad on December 30, 2006.
  • Witnesses reported that his neck broke during the drop, and he was declared dead minutes later by a doctor on site.
  • His body was taken to his birthplace, Al-Awja near Tikrit, and buried there near family members, including his sons Uday and Qusay.

A Bit More Context

  • The trial and execution were internationally controversial, with debates over fairness of the proceedings and the use of the death penalty in a highly tense post-invasion Iraq.
  • Mobile phone footage of the execution, showing taunts and a chaotic atmosphere at the gallows, further fueled criticism and discussion around how the execution was conducted.

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