Leyla Qasım executed 12 May 1974

[Anthea]

Leyla Qasım executed 12 May 1974

We commemorate leyla qasimi, who was executed by the Saddam regime 45 years ago on 12 May 1974

Leyla and her brother Çiyako were taught Arabic and agriculture by their mother when they were aged six and eight. In1958 she entered elementary and later finished secondary school in Xanekîn. In 1971 she moved to Baghdad to study sociology at the University.

When Leyla was sixteen years old as Abdul Rahman Arif was overthrown by Ba'ath party leader, General Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr. Leyla was disturbed by the violent takeover in the capital. During the late 1960s, Leyla and Çiyako wrote pamphlets on the horrors of the Ba'ath party including the new leader, Saddam Hussein, whom they described as being against Kurdish independence.

Leyla spoke to several Kurds in the Northern region of Iraq about the Ba'ath regime and the loose morals of the members. Leyla was told that her words were inspiring sedition.

In 1970 she joined the Kurdistan Students Union and the Kurdistan Democratic Party.

On 28 April 1974 she was detained together with four others and accused of attempting to hijack a plane. She was arrested, tortured and, in Baghdad on 12 May 1974, ultimately hanged after a lengthy show trial, broadcast throughout Iraq.