Saddam Hussein's granddaughter receives fashion award at Kurdish festival

Saddam Hussein's granddaughter was named the best young fashion designer at a Kurdish cultural festival held in Jordan on Monday, Kurdish media reported.

Organised by Qandil organisation at Amman's al-Ahliyya University, the three-day Newroz festival included several events and fashion shows for Kurdish and other clothing.

Banan Hussein Kamel, whose mother is the daughter of the former Iraqi president, presented her own collection of dresses at the festival.

The Dubai-based designer added upon accepting her award that she believes in equality among Kurds and Arabs.

"I have two dreams: first, my career, second, I want Iraq to be united and go back to what it was like before," she was quoted as saying by the Rudaw news website.

"We are all equal," she said.

"There are no differences between us, whether you are a Kurd, Shia or Sunni."

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"The most important thing for me is to do something which I enjoy doing. I built this career with love."

A number of Kurdish and Arab artists participated in the festival, including Iraqi singer Hatem al-Iraqi and Jordanian singer Diana Karazon.

"I am very happy to be here today. I have come with my mother to take part in this sacred day which is the feast of Nowruz," Karazon, who was on the judging panel, told Rudaw.

Saddam Hussein was president of Iraq for more than two decades, until he was overthrown and put to trial by US-led forces in 2003.

In 2006, the Iraqi leader was  convicted of charges of crimes against humanity related to the 1982 killing of 148 Iraqi Shias, and was sentenced to death by hanging.

His execution was carried out on 30 December 2006.