Sajida Talfah
Encyclopedia
Sajida Khairallah Talfah , is the widow and wife of former Iraq
i President Saddam Hussein
, and mother of two sons (Uday
and Qusay
) and three daughters (Raghad
, Rana
, and Hala
).
She was born in 1937. She is the oldest daughter of Khairallah Talfah
. She was played by Shohreh Aghdashloo
in the BBC adaptation House of Saddam
in 2008, in which her character played a major role.
and a sister, Ilham.
When Saddam was young, he came to live with his uncle Khairallah, and was raised by Sajida's family. She was a primary school teacher prior to marrying Saddam. She married Saddam in an arranged marriage in 1963.
In 1986, Saddam married another woman, Samira Shahbandar
, while still married to Sajida. Sajida was enraged, and Uday Hussein, son of Saddam and Sajida, was also angry over his father's new wife. Uday believed that his inheritance was endangered by the new wife. He also took it as an insult to his mother. In 1988, at a party thrown in the honor of Suzanne Mubarak
, the wife of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak
, Uday beat and stabbed Kamel Hana Gegeo to death. Uday believed that it was Kamel who introduced Saddam and Samira, and that he arranged their meetings. Some say the murder of Gegeo was a request of Sajida. Although her husband married another woman, Sajida and Saddam never divorced.
Sajida hardly ever appeared in public with her husband, so for many years her existence was obscure to the Iraqi people. However, when rumors surfaced that Saddam had married another woman, and that his family life was now strained, more pictures and videos appeared in the Iraqi media of Saddam and Sajida, as well as them with their children. These pictures and videos were intended to make it seem as if Saddam's family life was not strained.
In 1989, Sajida's brother Adnan, an Iraqi Army General, was killed in a supposed helicopter crash in the desert during a sandstorm. Many people believe that Saddam ordered one of his bodyguards to plant a bomb in the helicopter because of Adnan's growing popularity. Sajida was furious, and blamed Saddam, believing her brother's death wasn't an accident.
Sajida, along with many members of her family, fled Iraq in 1990 because of the Gulf War
, and left Iraq before the bombings began. There are many different reports on where the Hussein family fled to, but a possible location is Switzerland
. The Hussein family returned to Iraq after the war was over.
In July 2004, she hired a multi-lingual and multi-national defense team of some 20 lawyers to defend her husband during his trial for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other offences. However, on August 8, 2005, Saddam's family announced that they had dissolved the Jordan-based legal team and that they had appointed Khalil al-Duleimi
, the only Iraq-based member, as the sole legal counsel.
On July 2, 2006, Iraq national security advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie announced that Sajida and her daughter Raghad Saddam Hussein are placed 16th and 17th on the Iraqi government's most wanted list for financing Sunni Muslim insurgents under Saddam's reign. It is also believed that Sajida, and her daughter Raghad Hussein
have been funding the insurgency in Iraq with money they took with them when they fled the country. The lawyer leading Saddam's defence team stated that "the charges against Raghad and Sajida are baseless" and that "Sajida lives in her house in Qatar alone and has no contact with anyone, not even the lawyers". He also stated that Sajida "is undergoing medical treatment".
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i President Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
, and mother of two sons (Uday
Uday Hussein
Uday Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti , was the eldest son of Saddam Hussein from his first wife, Sajida Talfah. He was the brother of Qusay Hussein. Uday was for several years seen as the heir apparent of his father; however, Uday lost his place in the line of succession due to his erratic behavior and...
and Qusay
Qusay Hussein
Qusay Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti was the second son of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. He was appointed as his father's heir apparent in 2000.- Family :...
) and three daughters (Raghad
Raghad Hussein
Raghad Saddam Hussein is the eldest daughter of former President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein and Sajida Talfah.-Biography:...
, Rana
Rana Hussein
Rana Saddam Hussein is the second-eldest daughter of the former President of Iraq,Saddam Hussein and his first wife, Sajida Talfah. Her older sister is Raghad and younger sister is Hala Hussein....
, and Hala
Hala Hussein
Hala Saddam Hussein is the third daughter of the former President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein and his first wife Sajida Talfah. Hala was said to be Saddam's favorite daughter...
).
She was born in 1937. She is the oldest daughter of Khairallah Talfah
Khairallah Talfah
Khairallah Talfah - Khayr-Allah Telfah - Khairallah Tolfah - Khairallah Tilfah was an Iraqi Ba'ath Party official, and the maternal uncle and father-in-law of Saddam Hussein. He was the father of Sajida Talfah, Saddam's first wife, and of Adnan Khairallah, defence minister...
. She was played by Shohreh Aghdashloo
Shohreh Aghdashloo
Shohreh Aghdashloo is an Iranian American actress.After establishing a theatre and film career in Iran, Aghdashloo moved to England during the Iranian Revolution in 1979, and subsequently became a citizen of the United States...
in the BBC adaptation House of Saddam
House of Saddam
House of Saddam is a 2008 drama that charts the rise and fall of Saddam Hussein. A co-production between BBC Television and HBO Films, the series was first broadcast on BBC Two in four parts between 30 July and 20 August 2008. The mini-series has been very well received across the Arab...
in 2008, in which her character played a major role.
Early life
Sajida was born on June 24, 1937 and is the daughter of Kairallah Talfah. She was raised by her father along with her brother, Adnan KhairallahAdnan Khairallah
General Adnan Khairallah , was Saddam Hussein's brother-in-law and cousin. He held several titles and was a member of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council. It was initially believed that he died in a helicopter crash near Mosul in the late eighties during a sandstorm...
and a sister, Ilham.
When Saddam was young, he came to live with his uncle Khairallah, and was raised by Sajida's family. She was a primary school teacher prior to marrying Saddam. She married Saddam in an arranged marriage in 1963.
Wife of Saddam Hussein
Sajida and Saddam had five children together. In 1964, their first son Uday was born followed by Qusay in 1966. In 1968 their first daughter Raghad was born, followed by Rana in 1969, and finally their youngest daughter Hala in 1972.In 1986, Saddam married another woman, Samira Shahbandar
Samira Shahbandar
Samira Shahbandar was allegedly Saddam Hussein's second wife. She is allegedly the mother of his alleged third son, Ali, though his existence was never confirmed and members of Saddam's family claim that Ali is actually his grandson.-Biography:...
, while still married to Sajida. Sajida was enraged, and Uday Hussein, son of Saddam and Sajida, was also angry over his father's new wife. Uday believed that his inheritance was endangered by the new wife. He also took it as an insult to his mother. In 1988, at a party thrown in the honor of Suzanne Mubarak
Suzanne Mubarak
Suzanne Mubarak is married to the former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and was First Lady of Egypt until his ouster on 11 February 2011.-Early life and education:...
, the wife of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak
Hosni Mubarak
Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak is a former Egyptian politician and military commander. He served as the fourth President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011....
, Uday beat and stabbed Kamel Hana Gegeo to death. Uday believed that it was Kamel who introduced Saddam and Samira, and that he arranged their meetings. Some say the murder of Gegeo was a request of Sajida. Although her husband married another woman, Sajida and Saddam never divorced.
Sajida hardly ever appeared in public with her husband, so for many years her existence was obscure to the Iraqi people. However, when rumors surfaced that Saddam had married another woman, and that his family life was now strained, more pictures and videos appeared in the Iraqi media of Saddam and Sajida, as well as them with their children. These pictures and videos were intended to make it seem as if Saddam's family life was not strained.
In 1989, Sajida's brother Adnan, an Iraqi Army General, was killed in a supposed helicopter crash in the desert during a sandstorm. Many people believe that Saddam ordered one of his bodyguards to plant a bomb in the helicopter because of Adnan's growing popularity. Sajida was furious, and blamed Saddam, believing her brother's death wasn't an accident.
Sajida, along with many members of her family, fled Iraq in 1990 because of the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, and left Iraq before the bombings began. There are many different reports on where the Hussein family fled to, but a possible location is Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The Hussein family returned to Iraq after the war was over.
Post invasion
Sajida is believed to have fled Iraq to Qatar hours before the bombings began in Baghdad in March 2003. Her daughter Hala is believed to have gone with her, while Raghad and Rana Hussein fled to Jordan.In July 2004, she hired a multi-lingual and multi-national defense team of some 20 lawyers to defend her husband during his trial for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other offences. However, on August 8, 2005, Saddam's family announced that they had dissolved the Jordan-based legal team and that they had appointed Khalil al-Duleimi
Khalil al-Duleimi
Khalil al-Duleimi is an attorney best known for representing Saddam Hussein at his trial. He was one of 22 lawyers representing Hussein at his trial, and the only one based in Iraq. When Saddam's legal team learned that Saddam was to be interrogated, they requested the presence of a lawyer...
, the only Iraq-based member, as the sole legal counsel.
On July 2, 2006, Iraq national security advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie announced that Sajida and her daughter Raghad Saddam Hussein are placed 16th and 17th on the Iraqi government's most wanted list for financing Sunni Muslim insurgents under Saddam's reign. It is also believed that Sajida, and her daughter Raghad Hussein
Raghad Hussein
Raghad Saddam Hussein is the eldest daughter of former President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein and Sajida Talfah.-Biography:...
have been funding the insurgency in Iraq with money they took with them when they fled the country. The lawyer leading Saddam's defence team stated that "the charges against Raghad and Sajida are baseless" and that "Sajida lives in her house in Qatar alone and has no contact with anyone, not even the lawyers". He also stated that Sajida "is undergoing medical treatment".
External links
- Fled: from USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
.