Main content

Surviving Saddam

The memories of Zainab Salbi, a young Iraqi woman who grew up in the dictator's inner social circle

Zainab Salbi grew up in the inner social circle of the Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, in the 1980s because her father worked as Saddam鈥檚 personal pilot. It was a world of apparently glamorous parties on the River Tigris, but where the slightest falling-out with the dictator could lead to execution. After years of psychological pressure, Zainab鈥檚 family got her out of Saddam鈥檚 Iraq by setting up an arranged marriage for her in the US. She tells her story to Susan Hulme.

PHOTO: Zainab Salbi as a teenager with Saddam Hussein (private collection)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Tue 18 Aug 2020 02:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 17 Aug 2020 07:50GMT
  • Mon 17 Aug 2020 11:50GMT
  • Mon 17 Aug 2020 17:50GMT
  • Tue 18 Aug 2020 02:50GMT

Podcast