The First Evidence: A Memoir of Life in Iraq Under Saddam Hussein

by Juman Kubba

Few countries in contemporary times have had more political intrigue, violence and terror than the Iraq of Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath party. The atrocities of the Iraqi government, which were highlighted only after the Gulf War and are now receiving much attention, actually began in the 1970s. There are few accounts of what individuals endured, what everyday life was like, and the impact that Saddam Hussein's repressive regime has had on the lives of Iraqi citizens. The author of this remarkable memoir recounts growing up in Baghdad in the 70s during the early days of Saddam Hussein's reign. She describes in detail her family's fear and the cruel punishment they suffered when her father, a successful professional from a renowned, high-profile family, discovered the direct involvement of Iraqi authorities in the notorious Abu Tubar serial killings that rocked Baghdad.

199 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

I love words. Words can be powerful, moving, touching and gentle. Words make up great ideas and conversations. A picture is not better than a thousand words.
Thousands of words create a beautiful picture and story.
Hi, I am Juman Kubba and it is a great pleasure to welcome you to my page.
أهلا وسهلا بكم في صفحتي في هذا الموقع

All my books, so far, are based on my personal experience and memories along with insight and future vision as an Iraqi American. I believe it is so important for us to learn from each other and from what our life journey has taught us. I have poured my soul and heart into those books. Iraq is a central theme in all my books. The old and the New Iraq: culture, lifestyle, tradition, women, beautiful serene living amidst horrible politics- then and now and how our foreign policy decisions affect real people for decades. My books cover the time period from the early 1970’s until today. Those some fifty years comprise an era that has been plagued by dictatorship, wars, poverty, suffering and the post 2003 ongoing chaos.
I am scientist and a professor by education and training. However, I have discovered my passion for writing and love it. Some of my books do touch on science and education and women issues.

Reviews

[Edwin Stratton-Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The totalitarian Ba'athist dictatorship in Iraq under Saddam Hussein was motivated by violence and fear, and grew ever more intricately and creatively cruel as Hussein consolidated and increased his power.

Juman Kubba was eight, growing up in totalitarian Iraq in the early 1970s. At that time, Baghdad was paralysed by a series of horrific serial killings. 'Abu Tubar' ("Father of the Axe") chopped entire families up and threw their body parts around in a hellish frenzy of carnage. The murderer's modus operandi was to telephone first to terrify the target, and then turn up and kill them and their family. Baghdad was terrorised.

Juman's father, Makki, a telephone network engineer, intercepted a telephone call which exposed the truth about the murderer 'Abu Tubar': 'Abu Tubar' was calling from the office of the secret police. 'Abu Tubar' was not one crazed hatchet-man, randomly picking off families. 'Abu Tubar' was really Saddam Hussein's secret police, operating directly from Hussein's palace.

The Saddam Hussein regime's pseudo-terrorists were conducting ultra-violent family massacres to terrorise the population into paralysis, and ensure rising military budgets. The families luridly tortured and murdered tended to be up-and-coming families, from Shia communities, opponents of the Ba'athists, and so natural targets of the regime.

Makki was now in an impossible situation: He now knew the true identity of Abu Tubar, and the terrifying truth about the Ba'athist regime, but the dictatorship knew he knew. They would come for him.

Makki vanishes into the dungeons of the secret police. This is just the beginning of the Ba'ath nightmare for the family...

[ari b · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives you an inside of Iraq in the 70s and 80s where she shares her story as a child and what her parents had to go through.

I am myself left Iraq when I was three years old in the 90s. Thankfully my parents made the right choice however my parents grew up as young adults throughout the stories she shares in the memoir.

It was nice to read some thing that is relative to what my mom would share in the story she has