It’s hard out there for a Saddam Hussein

Najaf is apparently not a friendly place for people named Saddam Hussein these day: On last week’s edition of Radio Free Iraq‘s weekly call-in show, "Open Windows," host Ferial Hussein spoke to a caller named Saddam Hussein, who complained that he has been facing discrimination and employment problems in Iraq due to his name. Internally ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

Najaf is apparently not a friendly place for people named Saddam Hussein these day:

Najaf is apparently not a friendly place for people named Saddam Hussein these day:

On last week’s edition of Radio Free Iraq‘s weekly call-in show, "Open Windows," host Ferial Hussein spoke to a caller named Saddam Hussein, who complained that he has been facing discrimination and employment problems in Iraq due to his name.

Internally displaced from Diyala to Najaf, Saddam told Ferial that he had graduated from teaching academy and was attempting to find work with the Ministry of Education. He claimed that although he possessed the basic credentials required for the position, his application was rejected solely on the basis of his unfortunate name.

Saddam explained that his name has become a source of problems for him ever since he moved to Najaf — a city that is predominantly Shi’a. He complained that he has often been summoned to the police station to check his documentation and papers. "How many other people have to do that?" he asked in frustration.

At least this guy’s parents named him while Saddam was still in power. That’s more than you can say for Adolph Hitler Campbell’s family. 

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

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