Iraq Executes Jordanian Students in Retaliation for Alleged Plot

Tensions between Iraq and Jordan reached a boiling point last month when Iraq executed four Jordanian students, accused of small-scale smuggling. However, it emerged that the executions were a retaliatory measure by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein due to his belief that Jordan was plotting against him. The alleged plot, revealed through intercepted letters, involved a senior Iraqi general, Maj-Gen Talib al-Sadoun, who was executed by Iraq for his supposed involvement.

Key Takeaways:

• The executions of the four Jordanian students, Rizq Bishara Riz, Saad Yousef Doji, Salah Doji, and another student, were allegedly a retaliatory measure by Iraq due to its belief that Jordan was involved in a plot against President Saddam Hussein.
• Iraqi intelligence intercepted a letter from the Iraqi opposition to Gen al-Sadoun about a month ago, which Iraq believed was sent with the knowledge of the Jordanian government.
• Gen Wafiq al-Sammara'i, former head of Iraqi military intelligence, revealed that the letter was intercepted by Iraqi security and was the reason for the execution of the students.
• Gen Sadoun was a senior officer in the Iraqi army and ruling Baath party and had many contacts in the military and intelligence services.
• Gen Sammara'i stated that the students were under arrest for smuggling car parts when the Iraqi leader wanted to vent his anger against Jordan.
• Iraq believed that King Hussein was behind the plot, as evidenced by the statement read out on television after the students died, which referred to the execution as an "inhuman" act in "flagrant disregard" for human rights.

Statistics:

• 4 Jordanian students were executed by Iraq on December 8.
• The students were accused of smuggling car parts worth £530.
• Gen Wafiq al-Sammara'i, former head of Iraqi military intelligence, revealed that Iraqi intelligence had intercepted a letter about a plot against President Saddam Hussein.
• 10 other arrests were made, but the names of those imprisoned are not known.
• Gen Maj-Gen Talib al-Sadoun, a senior Iraqi general, was executed two weeks after the students' execution.

Sources:

• "Iraq Executes Jordanian Students in Retaliation for Alleged Plot" by Patrick Cockburn, The Independent.