Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

International

Shiite Woman Saves Sons from Saddam

Sabiha Mohammed Ismail sits between sons Ibrahim (left) and Saad.
NPR Photo, Nick Spicer /
Sabiha Mohammed Ismail sits between sons Ibrahim (left) and Saad.

Saddam Hussein's fearsome intelligence services killed thousands and had spies throughout Iraq.

But as NPR's Nick Spicer reports, a plucky Shiite woman in Baghdad -- Sabiha Mohammed Ismail -- hid two of her sons in her home for two decades, even though the agents came frequently to arrest and execute them.

The brothers grew up unbeknownst to their next-door neighbors, reading hundreds of books, and coaching their mom in how best to lie to the interrogators.

Advertisement

She even succeeded in persuading Iraqi officials they had already put to death her sons... who were just upstairs.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Fact-based local news is essential

KPBS keeps you informed with local stories you need to know about — with no paywall. Our news is free for everyone because people like you help fund it.

Without federal funding, community support is our lifeline.
Make a gift to protect the future of KPBS.