Biography of

President Saddam Hussein

President of the Republic of Iraq

Born on April 28, 1937 , in Tikrit, the seat of Saladdin Province where he finished his primary school.

Married , with five children: two boys and three girls.

Joined the Arab Ba' th Socialist Party ( A.B.S.P.) in 1956.

Arrested for six months over the years 1958-1959 for his political activities against the regime at the time while he was a secondary school student in Baghdad. Before completing his study at the secondary school he took part in the revolutionary operation against the dictator Abdul Karim Qassim who was Prime Minister in 1959, which resulted in the dictator 's receiving several shots , whereas Saddam Hussein received one shot from the dictator' s bodyguards in his leg.

Sentenced to death in absentia on February 25, 1960.

Escaped to Syria and thence to Egypt where he completed his secondary school study in 1962.

Returned to Iraq after the 14th of Ramadhan revolution ( February 8), 1963.

Admitted to the College of Law in Cairo in 1962-1963. Discontinued his study at the College by the end of 1963 when he had to return to Baghdad to lead the revolutionary struggle against the reactionary backward regime which had toppled the Ba' th Government.

Elected as member of the Ba' th Party Leadership in Iraq at the end of 1963.

The arrest campaign waged by the authorities against Party members on September 4, 1964 did not spare him , for he was arrested on October 14, 1964 with charges related to his leadership of the Party' s struggle against the reactionary backward regime.

Passed his first year , the College of Law, while he was under arrest.

Elected as member of the Ba' th Party's Pan-Arab National Leadership in 1965 while still under arrest.

In September 1966, he was elected Deputy Secretary General of Ba' th Party Leadership in Iraq.

Escaped from prison in 1967, to resume leadership of the Ba' th Party struggle, and hence he had to discontinue his study again because he was chased by the regime' s secret police.

On July 17, 1968, mounting the first thank which besieged the headquarters of the head of the regime ( The Presidential Palace ) he led a group of Party members which forced their way into the Palace to overthrow the reactionary backward regime, and so played the leading and basic role in carrying out the Revolution that day, having previously prepared for it.

On July 30 , 1968, he was personally in charge of swift operation to purge the new government of July 17 Revolution of certain old regime' s figures who for tactical reasons co-operated with the Ba 'th Party revolutionaries.

Having completed his third and fourth year of study after the July 17 Revolution 1968, he
graduated from the College of Law .

He practically acted as Vice - Chairman of the Revolution Command Council since July 30, 1968, but was constitutionally elected for this post on November 9, 1969.

On June 1, 1972, he led the process of nationalizing Western oil companies which had had the monopoly of Iraq's oil.

On July 1, 1973, he was dubbed the rank of Lieut. General and the Rafidain Order, First Class (Military type ).

On February 7, 1974, he was dubbed the Rafidain Order ( Civilian type ).

Played the principal role in formulating and implementing the Autonomy Law for Iraqi Kurdish citizens on March 11, 1974.

On February 1. 1976, he was awarded the M.A . Honors Degree in Military Sciences , together with the Staff Degree.

On October 8, 1977, he was elected Assistant Secretary General of the National Pan -Arab
Leadership of the Ba' th Party.

On July 16, 1979, he was elected Secretary General of the Regional Leadership of the Ba 'th Party in Iraq, Chairman of the Revolution Command Council and President of the Republic of Iraq.

On July 17, 1979, he was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal.

On October 8, 1979, he was elected Deputy Secretary General of the National Pan-Arab
Leadership of the Ba' th Party.

Led the Iraqi people an army wisely and bravely against the aggression initiated and launched against Iraq by Khomeini' s regime on September 4, 1980, which ended in Iraq 's great victory on August 8, 1988.

On July 30 , 1983, he was dubbed the Revolution Order first Class.

In 1984, he was awarded Honorary Doctorate in Law by the University of Baghdad.

On April 28, 1988, he was subbed the Order of the People.

Led actively the modernization of Iraqi economy, urging the construction of various developed industries and following their administration and execution. He also supervised the modernization of Iraqi countryside, the mechanization of agriculture and the distribution of land on farmers. He affected a comprehensive revolution in energy industries as well as in public services such as transport and education. He also initiated and led the National Campaign for the Eradication of Illiteracy and the implementation of Compulsory Free Education in Iraq.

Led his country in confrontation the aggression launched by 33 countries led by US. which waged war against Iraq, the Iraqis' confrontation of which is called by Arabs and Iraqis as the Battle of Battles (Um Al-Ma' arik) , where Iraq stood fast against the invasion, maintaining its sovereignty and political system.

Has several works in intellectual , political, economic , military, social and educational fields , all translated into basic world languages.