The story of the disappearance of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, which is the subject of a documentary film shown at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, is among the events engraved in the memory of modern Arab and international history. The film tells the words of Alaa Namiq, Saddam’s “hideout”, the details of that crucial period in the former president’s life until his arrest in the town of Doura, north of Baghdad, hiding in a hole between trees and roses.
Namiq explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that he did not think about participating in the film, despite the Western media’s insistence on him since 2004 to tell his story with Saddam, after his release from Abu Ghraib prison, but “years later, newspapers, televisions, and social networking sites came forward to talk about it.” About the story again on a daily basis, and in a wrong way. Which motivated me to agree to make the film (…) to say; I am not a traitor, and I will not allow anyone to call my children the traitor’s children.”
According to Namiq, Saddam’s personality was difficult at times and simple at other times, and he always tested them to ensure their intentions. He says that on December 13, 2003, Saddam asked him to change his place, and he replied: “Now we will change it,” but Saddam said: “No, sit down” and he began preparing dinner. He added: “The moment we sat down to eat dinner, American forces raided the farm, and we were immediately arrested.”
