Confessions of an Al-Qaeda Killer

Hitman for the insurgent group recalls his murderous spree at the height of Iraq’s sectarian violence.

Subhi Abdullah, in his own words, is a killer. He has been held in Diyala police headquarters in the provincial capital Baquba for more than two years on charges of murder and terrorism. Abdullah has been officially linked to hundreds of killings and the investigation into his dark past is still ongoing.

As a self-confessed assassin for al-Qaeda during the worst of the sectarian bloodshed, Abdullah, whose name has been changed, has spoken of at times murdering ten people a week. He says his transformation from a neighbourhood labourer to a hired gun came as a result of a desire for revenge, blackmail and the prospect of earning lots of money.

Abdullah's chilling story sheds light on the grim underbelly of sectarian killing that reached its height from 2006 to 2008 in Iraq's restive western governorates. If he was ever set free, Abdullah believes he would face the same fate as his victims.

"My life before I was a killer was about making money to feed my children. It was the same after I began working with al-Qaeda. It has always been about feeding my children," Abdullah said. "But now, I know I was wrong."

Abdullah was born to a poor Shia family in a rural district of Diyala province, married young and had four children. Abdullah appears unusually calm as he recalls his past although his eyes often betray deep emotion, even pain.

“At the beginning of 2007, my brother was killed after being kidnapped in one of the Shia districts [of Diyala]. I was determined to take revenge. I didn't have a weapon, so I joined the al-Qaeda group in my neighbourhood because they promised to help me get my revenge," Abdullah said.

A few days later, according to Abdullah, operatives came to his house with information on his brother's killer. The insurgents hold on Abdullah was about to begin.

"They asked me if I want to kill the man myself, and, of course, I said yes right away. They gave me a gun, and drove me to one of the residential areas where security is weak. Then, they pointed out a man sitting in front of shop wearing a black dishdasha (a long robe). They said he was the man responsible for kidnapping and killing my brother. They asked me to kill him and they would provide backup," Abdullah said.

Abdullah said he did as they asked, shooting the man dead. After the killing, he said he was driven away by the al-Qaeda agents and taken to meet their ringleader who, in turn, thanked Abdullah for his courage.

"I have learned that revenge like this should be done [legally]. I was wrong, but at the time I saw that the government could not protect its own citizens," he said, recounting the murder.

Abdullah’s life was forever changed by the revenge killing. A few weeks later, the same al-Qaeda operatives arrived at his home, offering money to help them kill American and Iraqi soldiers and officials. He said he soon found he had little choice.

Before he had made a decision, it was revealed by the al-Qaeda leader that his first killing had been recorded on video by the other gunman at the scene.

"I was aware, of course, that the video tape would be used against me in case I refused. I had also closed my shop at the time and I was in bad need of money to support my family and my late brother's family. I gave my consent, and started working with them,” he said.

It is here that Abdullah's life began to be dominated by al-Qaeda and its constant call for the murder of security officials and Sunni supporters of the central government. At the beginning, Abdullah said he was earning 100,000 to 150,000 Iraqi dinar (85 to 128 US dollars) for each killing. When there were no murder targets, he went along with al-Qaeda insurgent gangs on kidnappings and bombings.

"I used to kill no less than ten people per week, but then after about six months the terrorists began to force me to work with them while they cut their [bounties]. As the security situation continued to deteriorate, I started to kill people I didn't even know for 10,000 dinar. I started to look for those I should kill to get the money for my family and my brother's family," he said.

But the tables soon turned on Abdullah. When the United States-backed Sahwa, or Awakening Councils, emerged to combat al-Qaeda in the western provinces he found he had a price on his head. Finally, he was captured in a raid by Iraqi forces and Sahwa fighters in an insurgent hideout in Diyala in 2008.

Since that day, Abdullah has been held on murder and terrorism charges, although he has never stood trial. An official with the court, who declined to be named, said Abdullah has been proved to be behind hundreds of killings and the number could be higher as new facts emerge from current investigations.

"I'm a criminal, but I am concerned about the future of my children and my brother's family. They live in danger because of me. If the families of those I have killed recognise me, I'm afraid they will take revenge on my children instead of me. But I want to stay in prison rather than be set free. I know I will be killed outside. Prison is much better than death," he said.