15.11.2026 15:31
Khudhur Ahmed Raoof Weli, 60, born in Kirkuk, who served as a general for 17 years during the era of Iraq's deposed leader Saddam Hussein, lost his wife in an attack on his home after the invasion, and recounted that he was kidnapped and tortured by ISIS. The former pilot general, who speaks five languages and took refuge in Turkey in 2013, now earns his living in Istanbul by working in car washing and polishing.
Khudhur Ahmed Raoof Weli, a 60-year-old born in Kirkuk who served as a general for 17 years during the era of Iraq's ousted leader Saddam Hussein, took refuge in Turkey after the war. Weli, who speaks five languages and previously served as a pilot general, earns his living at a car wash where he works in Istanbul.
Khudhur Ahmed Raoof Weli, a 60-year-old who served as an eight-star pilot general during Saddam Hussein's era in Iraq, began hiding out of fear for his life after coalition forces led by the US and the UK invaded Baghdad in 2003 and Saddam Hussein's regime was overthrown. Weli, who hid for a year, was found by American soldiers in his hiding place. Weli stated that he had to work with the Americans, and some time later his house was bombed by the terrorist organization ISIS. Weli, who lost his wife in the attack, later stated that he was kidnapped by the terrorist organization, subjected to torture, and had his fingers cut off. The former general Weli, who stated that he was followed and subjected to attacks at every location he went to in Iraq, emigrated to Turkey in 2013. Weli, who came to Sivas in his first years and speaks five languages, continued his livelihood by working as an interpreter in the district where he lived. Then he married and came to Istanbul, where he began working in the car wash sector. Weli, recounting his extraordinary life story stretching from being a general to car washing, said, 'Doing this job now is not hard for me at all. God knows our destiny. I am content with my God. I always give thanks.'
HE RECOUNTED THE 8-YEAR IRAN WAR
Speaking about what happened during his time as a general in Iraq, Khudhur Ahmed Raoof Weli said, 'I am from Kirkuk. I entered Turkey from Iraq in 2013. I stayed here for one month. Then they sent me to Sivas. I stayed in Sivas for two and a half 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 it became Fatih. In Iraq, I first worked with Saddam's brother Vatban Ibrahim al-Hassan. Then the time for military service came. After I finished school, I became a general. After I became a general, there were wars with Iran, Kuwait, and America. But in the Iran war, there was truly oppression against us. Iran said of a lake on the Iraq-Iran border, '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 eight-year war with them. After eight years, we won the war.'
'SADDAM'S COUSIN TOLD HIS LOCATION'
Former general Weli, who claimed that Saddam Hussein's cousin betrayed him, said, 'After the war, Saddam hid. US 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. 'I am Saddam Hussein, President of Iraq,' he said. 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 more. Pointing to the pit, he said, 'There is an air vent here.' Then they pumped gas through that air vent. Saddam had suffocated. They brought him out that way. This man was captured.'
HIS HOUSE WAS BOMBED, HE LOST HIS WIFE
Weli, describing what happened after Saddam Hussein was overthrown, said, 'They came to my house. They asked me, 'Are you with us? Will you go to prison?' I told them, 'I will be with you.' I did not choose to go to prison. They bombed my house in Iraq. My wife was martyred there. I had 36 guards. Four of them were martyred. The neighbor's children were martyred. Wherever I went, bombs were exploding there. Little children were dying. For that reason, I left Iraq on November 5, 2013. After that, wherever I went, there were explosions. People were dying. Terrorist groups were carrying out attacks on me, saying, 'You worked with Saddam.' I was kidnapped and tortured by ISIS groups. I was not afraid of death. What was hard for me was that wherever I went, attacks were carried out on me and people were dying.'
HE COMMANDED A THOUSAND SOLDIERS, NOW HE DOES CAR POLISHING
Khudhur Raaof Ahmed Weli, whose life changed after he came to Turkey from Iraq, said, 'I thank the Turkish nation very much. They never saw me as a foreigner. I stayed in Sivas for about two and a half years. There was a village headman there. He took good care of me. The 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 car polishing. I first landed at Atatürk Airport from Kirkuk. I did not know anyone in Istanbul either. I stayed here for about 6 months. Then they sent me to Sivas. For nearly 2 years, I worked for a curtain maker in Sivas. In 2017, I got married and came to Istanbul. I earned from car washing and car polishing, thank God. Praise be to God a hundred thousand times. I used to be a general, a pilot. Doing this job now is not hard for me at all. God knows our destiny. I am content with my God. I always give thanks. A thousand soldiers used to take orders from me, I had 36 guards. Praise be to God that I am breathing. I thank the Turkish nation very much. Everyone opened their doors for me. They opened their doors not only for me but for everyone.'