Saddam Hussein's clan concerned from targeting its leader’s tomb by Iraqi air

to the shrines targeted by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria “ISIS” organization recently.

Saddam Hussein’s grave is in Awja town since 2007 , where he was born.

ISIS group recently embarked blowing up religious shrines where prophets and clerics are buried in the areas that they control, but so far they didn’t get close to the tomb of Saddam, although Tikrit, which includes Awja lies under their control.

If we take into account the ideology of ISIS in and their arguments targeting shrines so the result would be that Saddam's tomb, which was built in the form of a shrine meant by thousands annually is also an obvious target for them.

The extremists and militants blew up the tomb of Prophet Yunus and the tomb of Prophet Sheet in Mosul, in addition to the shrines of clerics , elite, statues and buildings in the largest series of bombing and demolition of Iraqi heritage structures.

Reports are often linked to the existence of a relationship between Baath party of Saddam Hussein and the radical elements of ISIS organization.

Perhaps the last statement of the current leader of Baath , Izzat al-Duri blessing elements of ISIS pay strongly to this belief.

Sheikh Falah al-Neda, a clan elders and his son, Hassan al-Neda confirmed fears of groups, which he described as rebels would bomb Saddam's grave.

He told “Shafaq News", that "They blew up the graves of the prophets , Will the tomb of Saddam stand in front of them."

Neda added that "the family is trying to move Saddam's body to the public cemetery, but fears of being targeted by Iraqi aircraft while transferring the body push them not to do that”.

"We believe that the Iraqi aircraft has Saddam’s tomb as a goal also as it has bombed in the past few days sites close to it , it could target the tomb at any moment."

Neda explains the map of militants and the army’s presence and says that "the army has withdrew from Awja that has not fired a single shot on it or at the headquarters of the fourth division of the army and the nearby village. While the gunmen did not enter but for some time, as they did not find the support of anyone with the exception of three young men."

"With the return of army progress toward Tikrit , some parts of  Awja have been recovered by the army on its surroundings until now but the gunmen are still inside," says Neda.

The son of Saddam’s tribal leader added that "Awja areas, which includes the tomb of Saddam lack any protection."

On the opinion of the clan on what is happening in the country , he said that " Maliki’s policies have pushed some to welcome the presence of the militants."

He added that "the clan has nothing to do with what's going on. Just want to preserve the village and what it owns."