A rumor spread on Arabic social media like wildfire Wednesday, and it got a quick response straight from the source — the family of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
Journalists on Thursday "broke news" of the death of Saddam Hussein's widowed first wife, Sajida Khairallah Talfah. But Hussein's family immediately denied the claims, likely proving it baseless.
The official Facebook page of Saddam Hussein al-Majidi criticized the "liars" on Facebook with two statuses, one posted Wednesday and another posted the following day.
#هام :أكدت لنا عائلة الشهيد #صدام_حسين أن الماجدة الأولى السيدة ساجدة خيرالله بخير . و لا صحة اطلاقا لخبر وفاتها .نسأل الله أن يمدها بالصحة و العافية و يديم عليها العز . *إدارة الصفحة *
Posted by صدام حسين المجيد Saddam Hussien AL-Majeed on Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Important: Saddam Hussein's family has confirmed that Mrs Sajida Khairallah is doing well and there's no truth whatsoever to the news of her death.
The initial post was shortly followed by a second lengthier one.
رسالة من الماجدة #رغد_صدام_حسين :بسم الله الرحمن الرحيمايها الاحبة في كل مكان.. الوالدة تتمع بصحة جيدة ، والجميع ب...
Posted by صدام حسين المجيد Saddam Hussien AL-Majeed on Thursday, August 13, 2015
"وفاة ساجدة خيرالله " أرملة صدام حسين في أحد مستشفيات الأردن "عن عمر 71 سنة
— فجر السعيد (@AlsaeedFajer) August 12, 2015Outlets should have maybe been more suspicious, considering most websites claim Talfah's 78 years old.
