Iraq: Mixed Legacy In Saddam's Hometown
Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s hometown, has paid dearly for its association to the former dictator, with residents feeling isolated and marginalized from the Iraqi political process, writes Ali Abel Sadah.
Tikrit, located in the north of Baghdad, is the hometown of the late president Saddam Hussein and home to an overwhelming Sunni majority. Ten years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, it is turning from a center of rule to a city of contradictions.
The residents of this city are conflicted, having had to acclimate to the political status quo while overcoming their nostalgia for the son of their city, the ruler who stayed in power for over 30 years.
Tikrit is 160 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of Baghdad on the Tigris River, and has a population of 370,000. It is the capital of Salahuddin province.
The town is characterized by its tribal nature, but in the 20 years that preceded the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, many of its residents were involved in politics and the military. They became prominent members of the Baath Party and senior officers in the Iraqi army.
