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Israeli-Iranian-Kuwaiti race to buy rope used to hang Saddam

February 4, 2015 at 11:00 am

Former minister in the post-occupation Iraqi government Mowaffak Al-Rubaie has put the rope used to execute the late Iraqi President Saddam Hussein up for sale. He has kept the rope, along with a bronze statue of Saddam knocked down by the Americans, in his home in Kadhimiya, north of the Iraqi capital.

A senior Iraqi politician in Baghdad told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that foreign and Arab parties have asked to buy the rope used to hang Saddam Hussein after Al-Rubaie posed for a picture with the rope which is tied around the neck of Saddam’s statue in his sitting room, and after he allowed leaders and former members of the opposition, who are now governing the country, take pictures with it.

The Iraqi politician added that two Kuwaiti businessmen, a bank, an Iranian religious institute, a wealthy Israeli family, and many others have all tasked Iraqis with negotiating with Al-Rubaie in order to buy the rope. He noted that the price of the 39 metre rope has reached $7 million, but Al-Rubaie is asking for more.

This matter raised a popular uproar over what Twitter users and human rights activists have described as “selling murder weapons”. There are also disputes regarding Al-Rubaie’s right to the money paid for the rope considering it public funds rather than “Al-Rubaie’s father’s money”, as stated by activist Ahmed Saeed in an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

He also noted that regardless of the seller’s and buyers’ absurdity and the fact that they are either looking for fame or are blinded by ignorance, the fact remains that the law prohibits Al-Rubaie’s collection of money for the rope, and that if it is sold, the money must go to the state’s treasury. Saeed said the deal is “surrounded by hate and ignorance”.

The Iraqi government has yet to comment on the matter and Al-Rubaie has not denied this, despite the fact that days have passed since the news was reported by the media and despite the fact that the auction has caused a ruckus in Baghdad’s streets. There have been numerous people from different nationalities who have claimed to possess Saddam’s personal relics, such as his Cuban cigar box, his watch, journal and Quran.