Saddam Hussein - Iraq Today 1981 Official Propaganda Magazine Turkish Turkey Middle East

Saddam Hussein - Bugünkü Irak (Official Propaganda Magazine, August 1981, Turkey Edition)

Description:
This is an official propaganda magazine titled Bugünkü Irak (“Iraq Today”), published in August 1981 in Turkey by the Press Office of Iraq (Irak Basın Müşteşarlığı). The magazine was issued during the early stages of the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988) as part of Saddam Hussein’s broader propaganda campaign to influence regional opinion and legitimize Iraq’s position in the conflict.

The publication is richly illustrated with numerous photographs and visuals, covering both the war front and life inside Iraq. Alongside political commentary, it portrays Iraq as a strong, modern, and united state under Saddam Hussein’s leadership, while at the same time presenting a critical and hostile depiction of Iran. Beyond military updates, the magazine includes sections highlighting Iraqi society, culture, and economic achievements serving as a propaganda tool aimed at shaping perceptions in neighboring Turkey.

Key Features:

• Title: Bugünkü Irak (“Iraq Today”)

• Publication Date: August 1981

• Publisher: Iraq Press Office (Irak Basın Müşteşarlığı) – Official State Publication

• Language: Turkish

• Context: Published during the Iran–Iraq War

• Content: Heavy use of visual materials (war photography, political imagery, cultural life in Iraq)

• Purpose: Propaganda tool promoting Saddam Hussein’s policies and Iraq’s wartime stance

• Historical significance as a rare example of Iraqi propaganda distributed in Turkey

• Condition: Small tear on the cover, otherwise well-preserved