Alef-Ba Magazine 1987 Saddam Hussein Propaganda Magazine Iraq Arabic Iran
Alef-Ba Magazine – Alef-Ba (ألف باء) Magazine Issue No. 955 – Saddam Hussein Era Edition (1987)
Description:
This is the 955th issue (1987) of Alef-Ba (ألف باء) magazine, a well-known Arabic-language publication produced during the Ba’ath regime in Iraq. Issued under the supervision of the Iraqi Ministry of Information and Culture, the magazine functioned as an official state publication, presenting political messaging, ideological content, and coverage of national and international developments aligned with the regime.
The cover prominently features Saddam Hussein alongside military officials in uniform at the front lines, reflecting the ongoing Iran–Iraq War during that period. Inside, the issue includes numerous military photographs, reports from the front lines, and visual documentation of wartime activity, offering insight into how the conflict was represented to the public through state-controlled media.
As a period piece, the magazine serves as both a propaganda instrument and a historical document, illustrating the visual language, political narratives, and media strategies of the Ba’ath regime. A notable feature of this issue is the inclusion of a central fold-out calendar featuring Saddam Hussein, further emphasizing the personality-centered nature of the publication.
Key Features:
• Title: Alef-Ba (ألف باء) Magazine
• Issue: No. 955
• Date: 1987
• Language: Arabic
• Publisher: Iraqi Ministry of Information and Culture
• Format: Illustrated magazine
• Content: Political propaganda, military reporting, and wartime visuals
• Themes: State ideology; war; leadership image; media propaganda
• Cover: Saddam Hussein and military delegation at the front lines
• Notable Feature: Centerfold calendar with Saddam Hussein portrait
• Significance: Ba’ath-era propaganda publication from the Iran–Iraq War period
• Collector Appeal: Historical propaganda magazine with strong visual documentation from a key Middle Eastern conflict era