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Death sentence for 'Chemical Ali' | Death sentence for 'Chemical Ali' |
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Ali Hassan al-Majid, a former Iraqi official known as Chemical Ali, has been sentenced to death for ordering the gassing of Kurds. | Ali Hassan al-Majid, a former Iraqi official known as Chemical Ali, has been sentenced to death for ordering the gassing of Kurds. |
It is the fourth time that Majid, an enforcer in Saddam Hussein's regime, has been sentenced to death. | It is the fourth time that Majid, an enforcer in Saddam Hussein's regime, has been sentenced to death. |
He has also been convicted of the 1999 killings of Shia Muslims in Baghdad and for a campaign of genocide against the Kurds. | He has also been convicted of the 1999 killings of Shia Muslims in Baghdad and for a campaign of genocide against the Kurds. |
His latest sentence is for a gas attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja in 1988. | His latest sentence is for a gas attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja in 1988. |
It is believed that 5,000 people were killed in the attack, most of them women and children. | It is believed that 5,000 people were killed in the attack, most of them women and children. |
Majid was a cousin of Saddam Hussein, who earned his nickname after his use of poison gas. | Majid was a cousin of Saddam Hussein, who earned his nickname after his use of poison gas. |
The Al-Iraqiya channel said Majid would be killed by hanging. | The Al-Iraqiya channel said Majid would be killed by hanging. |
Ethnic campaign | |
The Iraqi High Tribunal also sentenced former defence minister Sultan Hashem to 15 years in prison for the attack, a court official said, quoted by Reuters. | The Iraqi High Tribunal also sentenced former defence minister Sultan Hashem to 15 years in prison for the attack, a court official said, quoted by Reuters. |
Majid was captured in August 2003, five months after US forces invaded Iraq. | Majid was captured in August 2003, five months after US forces invaded Iraq. |
He was sentenced to hang in June 2007 for his role in a military campaign against ethnic Kurds, codenamed Anfal, that lasted from February to August of 1988. | |
In December 2008 he also received a death sentence for his role in crushing a Shia revolt after the 1991 Gulf War. | |
In March 2009 he was sentenced to death, along with others, for the 1999 killings of Shia Muslims in Baghdad. |