15.11.2026 16:00
The life of Kirkuk-born Khudhur Ahmed Raoof Weli, who served as a general for 17 years during the era of Iraq's overthrown leader Saddam Hussein, changed completely after the war. The 60-year-old former general, who lost his wife in attacks he experienced in Iraq and said he was kidnapped and tortured by the terrorist organization ISIS, took refuge in Turkey in 2013. Weli, who says he once had a thousand soldiers and 36 bodyguards under his command, now makes a living by working at a car wash in Istanbul.
Khudhur Ahmed Raoof Weli, who stated that he served as an eight-star pilot general during Saddam Hussein's era in Iraq, began to experience hard days after the US and UK-led coalition forces invaded Baghdad in 2003 and the Saddam regime was overthrown.
Weli, who recounted that he hid for about a year because he feared for his life, said that he was later found by American soldiers and had to work with them. The former general, whose life was turned upside down due to the attacks he experienced in Iraq, took refuge in Turkey years later and established a new life.
"I BECAME A GENERAL AFTER FINISHING SCHOOL" Weli, who recounted that he was born in Kirkuk and worked with Saddam Hussein's brother Vatban Ibrahim al-Hassan, said that during his military years he witnessed the wars with Iran, Kuwait, and the US.
The former general recounted his past in these words: 'I am from Kirkuk. I entered Turkey from Iraq in 2013. I stayed here for a month. Then they sent me to Sivas. I stayed in Sivas for 2.5 years. In 2017 I returned to Istanbul again and got married. After marriage, we became citizens, praise be to God. My name was Khudhur and became Fatih. In Iraq, I was first working with Saddam's brother Vatban Ibrahim al-Hassan. Then the time for military service came. I became a general after finishing school. After I became a general, there were wars with Iran, Kuwait, and America. But in the Iran war, there was truly oppression against us. To a lake on the Iraq-Iran border, Iran said, 'This is ours.' Saddam responded, 'No, it is ours.' Then they bombed us. They bombed our school locations. Many of our people died. After that, Saddam entered an 8-year war with them. After eight years, we won the war. '
STRIKING REMARKS ABOUT SADDAM HUSSEIN'S CAPTURE Weli, who also spoke about Saddam Hussein's capture, claimed that the place where the deposed leader was hiding was reported to American soldiers by one of his relatives. Sharing his own account of Saddam's capture process, Weli used the following statements: 'After the war, Saddam hid. American President Bush appeared on screens and said, 'Whoever gives us Saddam's address, I will give 25 million dollars and American citizenship.' His cousin betrayed him and told Saddam's location. They called out to Saddam Hussein. He responded. He said, 'I am the President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein.' They told him, 'Come out.' Saddam said, 'I will not come out of here. If you do not take me out, I will not come out and I will not commit suicide either, because I am upon Islam.' That traitor betrayed him once again. Pointing to the pit, he said, 'There is a ventilation place here.' Then they pumped gas through that ventilation place. Saddam was suffocated. They brought him out that way. This man was captured. '
These details Weli conveyed regarding Saddam's capture are based on his own claims.
HIS HOUSE WAS BOMBED; HE LOST HIS WIFE AND 4 BODYGUARDS Weli, who stated that after the overthrow of Saddam's regime he became a target in Iraq, said that his house was bombed and that in the attack his wife as well as 4 of his bodyguards lost their lives. Recounting that he was followed and subjected to attacks wherever he went, the former general expressed that civilians around him also lost their lives in these attacks.
Weli recounted what he experienced as follows: 'They came to my house. They asked me, 'Are you with us? Are you going to prison?' I told them, 'I will be with you.' I did not choose to go to prison. They hit my house in Iraq. There my wife was martyred. I had 36 bodyguards. Four of them were martyred. Neighboring children were martyred. Wherever I went, bombs were exploding there. Small children were dying. Because of that, I left Iraq on the 5th of the 11th month of 2013. After that, wherever I went, there were explosions. People were dying. Terrorist groups were carrying out attacks on me, saying, 'You were working with Saddam.' I was kidnapped by ISIS groups and tortured. I was not afraid of death. What weighed heavily on me was that wherever I went, attacks were carried out against me and people were dying. '
Weli, who stated that he was kidnapped by the terrorist organization ISIS and subjected to torture, said that his fingers were also cut off during this process.
HE TOOK REFUGE IN TURKEY AND STARTED HIS LIFE FROM SCRATCH After the attacks he experienced in Iraq, Weli left his country on November 5, 2013, and came to Turkey. The former general first reached Istanbul and was later settled in Sivas.
Weli, who stated that he knows five languages, made his living by working as an interpreter during the period he lived in Sivas. Weli, who also worked for a curtain seller, returned to Istanbul again in 2017.
The former general, who said that he established a new life by getting married in Turkey and became a Turkish citizen, recounted that he also changed his name to Fatih.
HE ONCE HAD A THOUSAND SOLDIERS UNDER HIS COMMAND; NOW HE WASHES CARS Weli, who served as a general and pilot in Iraq, today works at a car wash in Istanbul. The former general, who does polishing and waxing as well as car washing, said that he left behind the position and opportunities he had in the past.
Reminding that he had a thousand soldiers and 36 bodyguards under his command, Weli stated that he does not complain about his current job and expressed that he continues his life with gratitude.
"DOING THIS JOB NOW DOES NOT WEIGH ON ME AT ALL" Weli, expressing his satisfaction with the attention he has received in Turkey, thanked the Turkish people and used the following statements: 'I thank the Turkish nation very much. They never saw me as a foreigner. I stayed in Sivas for about 2.5 years. There was a mukhtar there. He also took good care of me. Security personnel took very good care of me. Truly everyone opened doors for me. I worked as an interpreter. He was a master curtain maker. At that time I bought a computer and became friends with him. I earned money by interpreting. Here I became a car wash master. At the same time, I do polishing and waxing. I first landed at Atatürk Airport from Kirkuk. I did not know anyone from Istanbul either. I stayed here for about 6 months. After that they sent me to Sivas. For nearly 2 years I worked for a curtain maker in Sivas. In 2017 I came to Istanbul by getting married. I earned from car washing and polishing and waxing, thank God. Praise be to God a hundred thousand times. I used to be a general, a pilot. Doing this job now does not weigh on me at all. God knows our destiny. I am pleased with my God. I always give thanks. A thousand soldiers used to obey my word, I had 36 bodyguards. Thank God I am breathing. I thank the Turkish nation very much. Everyone opened their doors for me. Not only for me, but they opened their doors for everyone. "
Weli, whose life was changed by war, losses, and migration and who continues it in Istanbul, continues to earn his living through his labor today, after the days when he once served as a general.
.