Uday Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti (Odai Hussein) is the oldest son of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his first wife Sajida Talfah. He was for several years seen as the likely successor of Saddam. He produced the newspaper, Babel.
On December 12, 1996 he was seriously injured in an assassination attempt. Hit by eight bullets while driving, he was at first thought to be paralyzed; however, he now walks (though with a limp). The assassination attempt led to his brother, Qusay Hussein, being given more powers, and, in 2000, Qusay was designated as their father's heir.
On March 17, 2003, US President George W. Bush gave Saddam Hussein 48 hours to leave Iraq, explicitly adding that Uday and Qusay must go too, or face war. Uday responded to the demands by requesting Bush and his family leave the US.
 Saddam and Uday Hussein (right) |
A report on March 20, 2003 by ABC news made several allegations against Uday:
- As head of the Iraqi Olympic Committee, it was alleged that Uday oversaw the imprisonment and torture of Iraqi athletes who were deemed not to have performed to expectations. Charges of the crushing of soccer players' feet and beatings were made.
- A former member of the French foreign ministry claimed that Uday and his bodyguards had forced their way into the hotel room of a French couple and forced them at gunpoint to perform sex acts so that Uday could video tape them for later re-viewing.
- A former Uday look-alike who had served in the past as a body double, now living in the West, claimed that Uday is unable to perform sexually without causing pain and drawing blood from his sexual partners. The double said that Uday had committed numerous rapes on women, including on a visiting Russian ballerina.
- Uday has purchased or stolen ~1200 luxury automobiles, including a Rolls-Royce Corniche valued at over $200,000.
Uday Hussein may have fled to Syria. Other sources say that he is already dead.
Quotes by Uday Hussein
- "George W. Bush is unstable."
External Links
- GlobalSecurity.org: Uday Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/uday.htm)
- DesertVoice.net: Saddam's sons (http://www.desert-voice.net/saddam_sons.htm)
- BBC News: Saddam pounces on son's newspaper, 20 Nov 2002 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2495481.stm)
- BBC News: Saddam's son steps into debate, 14 Nov 2002 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2475925.stm)
- BBC News: Saddam's rival sons, 10 Sep 2002 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2236137.stm)