Historical records of Saddam Hussein final statement resurface as mobile phone footage continues to spark international debate

A retrospective look at the 2006 execution of Saddam Hussein, the leaked mobile phone footage, and the international outcry over his final defiant words.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 4, 2026, 7:09 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Daily Star

The fall of a two decade regime

Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq for more than twenty years through a system of absolute control and the suppression of political dissent. His reign ended following the 2003 United States led invasion, which eventually led to his capture and a protracted legal process before the Iraqi Special Tribunal. Hussein was officially convicted of crimes against humanity specifically linked to the 1982 Dujail massacre, where 148 people were murdered. Despite his request to be executed by a military firing squad—a method he argued was befitting his former rank as commander in chief—the court upheld the sentence of death by hanging.

Final preparations at Camp Justice

On the morning of December 30, 2006, which coincided with the first day of the Islamic holiday Eid al Adha, Hussein was prepared for execution at Camp Justice in Baghdad. Reports indicate that his final meal consisted of chicken and rice with hot water and honey. As he was escorted into the chamber, he carried a Qur'an, maintaining what eyewitnesses described as a remarkably calm demeanor despite the gravity of the situation. The transition from a powerful head of state to a prisoner facing the gallows remains one of the most documented shifts in modern political history.

Atmosphere of the execution chamber

The environment within the execution room was reportedly tense and highly disorganized. While official protocols called for a somber and professional proceeding, eyewitness accounts and leaked footage revealed that several officials and onlookers taunted the former dictator. Chants praising the Islamic cleric Muqtada al Sadr echoed throughout the facility, creating a sectarian atmosphere that drew sharp criticism from international observers. Hussein responded to the jeering by stating that his life had been dedicated to combatting hostility, remaining stoic as the noose was prepared.