Global Policy Forum

The Prime Minister
Mr. Nuri Kamil Mohammad Hassan Al-Maliki

- From a Shia tribe known as Bani Malik
- Born in 1950 in Abu Gharqa city in the Babil province west of the city of Hilla.
- Married with 4 daughters and one son
- Completed high school in Al-Hindiya city and university in Baghdad
- Grandson of the famous poet and religion scholar who was the minister of Education during the Monarchy of Iraq and also was one of the leaders of the 20th revolution.
- Finished his Masters Degree in Salahaddin University in Arbil
- Joined Al-Dawaa Party in the late 1960s and continued his studies while doing his political duties
- Was sentenced to death in 1979 and then fled Iraq
- Continued his political and party duties outside Iraq from Damascus
- Graduated in the Al-Dawaa Party and became full and advanced member
- Participated in most conferences of the Iraqi opposition
- Was editor-in Chief of "Al-Mawqif" newspaper in Syria
- Returned to Iraq after the removal of Saddam in 2003
- Elected the 1st deputy of the National Council and active member in the National Assembly and was chief of Defense and Security Board
- Participated in drafting the permanent constitution
- Was deputy chief of the Debaathification Commission and also served as the spokesperson
- Was the main negotiator in the UIA-Shiites Alliances with other political blocs, and was the spokesperson of the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA).

Deputy Prime Minister
Dr. Barham Salih

- A Kurd born in Iraqi Kurdistan 1960
- Holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Kardeef University
- Holds a PH.D (Philosophy Degree) in statistics &computers from Liverpool University
- Joined the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) under the leadership of Jalal Talabani
- Was arrested many times during the former regime era
- Fled Iraq in 1979
- Was the spokesperson for the PUK in London
- Represented the PUK and the KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government) in the USA for 10 years after 1991
- Was Deputy to the Iraqi Prime Minister Dr Ayad Alawi in 2004
- Was the Minister of Planning in Jaafari's government

Deputy Prime Minister
Dr. Salam Zakem Ali Fadhli Al-Zawbai

- A Sunni who is part of the Consensus Sunni list
- Born in 1959 in Baghdad
- Earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Mosul University, Agriculture College, soil science Department in 1982
- Was deprived from completing his Masters for 5 years because he was an independent (not a Baath party member)
- Received his Masters Degree in 1988
- Employed as Assistant teacher in Anbar University 1992
- Was the Chief of Union of the Agricultural Engineers of Anbar 1993-1997
- Joined Agriculture College /Soil & water Dept. 1997
- Received his PhD from Baghdad University 2000, and received an award for completing his PhD in less than standard time
- Became a lecturer at Anbar University in 2000
- Was manager of Tharthar Poultry Company 1992-1997
- Was manger of developing Al-Naemiya Forest 1990-1992
- Specialized in potato nutrition & fertilization
- Participated in many conferences in Iraq and outside the country

The Ministries

Minister of Interior
Jawad Al-Bolany

- A Shia who is currently known as politically independent
- Born in Al-Bader, Diwaniyah Province, 1960.
- Earned a bachelor degree in mechanical engineering from the Technological University in Baghdad in 1984
- Worked as an engineer for the Iraqi Air Force
- Participated in many workshops on various issues
- Has worked with several NGOs.
- Former Member in the transitional National Assembly

Minister of Defense
Abdu Alqadir Al-Ubaidi

- Extensive military background gained from working for the Iraqi Army since 1973 after attending several military academies
- A Sunni who was discharged from the military after the first Gulf War because of his open opposition to the Saddam invasion of Kuwait
- Was arrested and sentenced to 7 years in addition to the confiscation of his properties on June 1, 1994
- Joined the Iraqi Army after the removal of Saddam. The last post he held prior to assuming the ministry of Defense was the Commander of the Iraqi Ground Forces

Minister of Finance
Mr. Bayan Jaber Solagh

- Born in Maisan in 1946
- Earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1969
- A Shia who left Iraq 1982 after the former regime executed 12 members of his family
- Member of the Political Bureau of the Mujaheddin Movement 1984, and editor in chief of ‘Al- Adhwaa" magazine and "Nidaa Al-Rafidain in Beirut 1990
- Representative of the SCIRI (Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq) in Syria and Lebanon
- Participated in many Opposition conferences in Salahaddin, Arbil and Beirut
- Was Minister of Housing and Reconstruction in the first interim government after the removal of Saddam
- Was elected as the advisor to Ayad Alawi for Construction Affairs, and a member in the committee of reconstructing the city of Najaf
- Was the Minster of Interior in Jaafari's government

Minister of Oil
Dr Hussein Al-Shahristani

- Born in 1942 in Karbala
- A Shia who is in the independent Bloc in the UIA
- Earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering 1965
- Masters of Science in Chemical Engineering 1967
- PhD in Chemical Engineering 1970
- Member of the Iraqi National assembly
- 1st Deputy to the Parliament chief in 2005
- Political prisoner from 1979-1991
- Professor at University of Baghdad, 2004
- Visiting Professor at Surrey University/Britain, 2002-2004
- Chief of Iraq National Academics for Sciences, 2003
- Advisor of the International Center for Technical Research/London, 1998-2002
- Advisor of the Iraqi Atomic power organization, 1979
- Chief of Nuclear Chemist Dept., 1977-1979
- Chief of the Radioisotope Production Dept., 1975-1977
- Assistant Professor at the University of Baghdad, 1974
- Lecturer at Mosul University, 1973
- Science researcher at a nuclear research center, 1970-1973
- Chief of the Political Prisoners' Union in Iraq, 2003
- Chief of Iraqi Refugees Relief Committee, 1995-2003
- Chief of the Gulf War Victims Organization, 1991-1995

Interim State Minister (without post)
Hasan Radhi Al-Sari

- A Shia who is a member of the central Shura of the SCIRI in Iraq
- Earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Diploma in Life Science from the University of Baghdad
- Holds a Bachelor Degree and Masters in Political Science from Imam Al-Sadiq University
- Was the General Secretary of "Hizballah God Party" in Iraq that presented over 1,000 martyrs and more than 1,600 in prisons
- Member of the preparation conference of the National Assembly
- Member of the previous and recent Parliament
- Deputy for the chief of Marsh restoration
- Participated in many conferences of the Iraqi opposition
- Founder of "Albaina" newspaper that is published by Hizballah Iraq
- Has experience against the former regime since the age of 18
- Was arrested and tortured many times by Saddam's regime and was sentenced to life in prison twice while family members were arrested

Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Hoshyar Zebari

- A Kurd who was born in Akra north of Mosul 1953
- Earned a Bachelor degree in political science from a Jordanian university, 1976
- Holds a Masters degree in Sociology from Essex University (UK)
- Participated as a guerrilla fighter in the Kurdish opposition against Saddam regime
- Is the uncle of Massoud Barzani, one of the two leaders who control the Kurdish areas
- Member of the KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party led by Barzani) since 1979
- Representative of the KDP in Europe, 1979-1981
- Chief of the Foreign & international affairs bureau of the KDP, 1988-2003
- Chief of the foreign relations of the Iraqi opposition blocs
- Minister of Foreign affairs of the 1st Iraqi government since 2003 after the fall of Saddam's regime.

Minister of Education
Khudair Al-Khuzai

- A Shia born in Maysan in 1947 - Has a Doctorate degree in Philosophy of Islamic Thought and Quranic Studies
- Has worked for universities and has written books on Quranic interpretation
- Member of the Islamic Call Party – Iraq Organization Party
- Was elected to the Iraqi National Assembly in January 2005 and December 2005 as part of the United Iraqi Alliance list

Minister of Municipalities
Riadh Ghareeb

- A Shia who is a member of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI).

The Minister of Trade
Dr Abdul Falah Hassan Hammadi

- A Shia who is a member of the al- Da'waa Party
- Born in Basra in 1947
- Bachelor of Science from University of Basra, 1970
- Holds a PH.D. in Chemistry from the University of Wells, 1981
- Member of the Royalty Board for Biological Science (Britain)
- Professor and researcher in Chemistry in Wells University/Suwanzi
- One of the participants in establishing the "Islamic house" in London
- Chief of the Muslim Youth League in London since 1977
- Chief of ‘Al-Mashriq" center for studies in London
- Has been published many times

Minister of Electricity
Kareem Waheed

- A Shia who is a member of the UIA.

Minister of Health
Ali Al-Shimmery

- A Shia who is allied to Sadr

Minister of National Security
Sherwan Al-Waili

- From Nasriyah City (South of Baghdad)
- A Shia who is a member of the al- Daw'wa Party
- Former officer in the Iraqi Army

Minister of Sport & Youth
Jassim Mohamad Jafar

- A Turkmen
- Born in a town south of Tikrit called Tuzkhurmatu
- Holds a degree in civil engineering from Salahaddin University
- Was previously the Minister of Housing and Reconstruction under the Interim Government of Jaafari
- Founded the Turkmen Islamic Union, one of Iraq's leading Turkmen political organizations
- After being sentenced to death for anti-Baath Party activities in 1981, he fled to Kurdistan

Minister of Agriculture
Yaarub Nadhim Al-Aboudi

- A Shia who is a member of Sadr's movement
- A member of the United Iraqi Alliance
- His name has many spelling variations in press reports

Minister of State for Tourism and Archeology
Liwaa Sumaisem

- A Shia who is a member of Sadr's movement
- Listed as a Doctor on the DOD website, but no information on what the degree is in
- According to al Sabah newspaper on June 12th, he may be resigning because of incompetency
- Offered his resignation on the 15th after it was demanded by Sadr because of they lacked the necessary qualifications and experience to run their ministries. Maliki will decide soon whether to accept them.

Minister of Transportation
Kareem Mahdi Salih

- A Shia who is a member of Sadr's movement
- Listed as a Doctor on the DOD website, but no information on what the degree is in
- Salih offered his resignation on the 15th after it was demanded by Sadr because of they lacked the necessary qualifications and experience to run their ministries. Maliki will decide in a few days whether to accept them.

Minister of Migration & the Displaced
Abdul Samad Rahman Sultan

- Both a Shia and Faili Kurd

Minister of State for Parliament Affairs
Safa Al-Safi

- A Shia born in 1957 in Basra
- Trained in Law in Kuwait and Egypt
- Served on the preparatory committee for the new Iraqi constitution

Minister of Water Resources
Dr. Lateef Rasheed

- A Kurd born 1944 in Sulaimaniya
- Active member of the PUK
- Obtained his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering 1968 from Liverpool University, and both his Masters Degree in 1972 and PH.D in 1976 from Manchester University
- Certified Engineer and member of the British civil engineering institute MICE and the international committee for irrigation & drainage ICID
- He has been the Minister of the Water resources since April 2003, and he is responsible for all Iraqi water resources
- Was a senior manager in Food and Agriculture in the UNFAO in Yemen and Saudi Arabia
- Member of the INC (Iraqi National Council)
- Representative of the PUK in United Kingdom since 1986 and the spokesperson of the Kurdistan front

Minister of Culture
Asad Kamal Al-Hashimi

- A Kurd who is a member of the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP)

Minister of Industry
Fawzi Fransso Hareeri

- A Kurd who is a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)

Minister of Housing & Construction
Mrs. Bayan Dizaei

- A Kurd who is a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)

Minister of Planning
Ali Baban

- A Sunni who is a member of the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP)

Minister of Higher Education
Abed Thiab Al Ujaily

- A Sunni who is a member of the Iraqi Consensus List

Minister of State for Foreign Issues
Rafia Al-Eesawi

- A Sunni who is a member of the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP)

Minister of Communications
Mohamad Tawfiq Aliawi

- A Shia who is a member of the Iraqiya List (Ayad Allawi's list)

Minister of Science & Technology
Raed Fahmi Jahid

- A Sunni
- A member of one of the Communist parties that joined the Iraqiya List.

Minister of Justice
Hashim Al-Shibly

- Was previously appointed as the human rights minister, but rejected the post saying he had not been consulted
- A Sunni who is a member of the Iraqi National List

Minister of Human Rights
Mrs. Wijdan Mikhael

- A Christian who is a member of the Iraqiya List.

Minister of Environment
Mrs. Nermeen Osman

- A Kurd who is a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)
- Was the Minster of Education in the Kurdistan region
- Was superintendent in the ministry of Justice, and minister of social services in the Kurdistan region
- Was the Minister of the State for Women affairs in the Allawi government and the acting minister of Health

Minster of State for Women's Affairs
Mrs. Fatin Abdul Rahman Mahmoud

- A Sunni who is a member of the Consensus List

Minister of National Dialogue
Akrem Al-Hakeem

- A Shia who is a member of the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA)

Minister of Labor & Social Services
Mr. Mahmoud Mohammad Jawad Al-Sheikh Radgi

- Born in 1944 in Najaf
- A Shia who is in the Independent Bloc in the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA)
- Earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Baghdad in 1966
- Member of the national assembly in the former transition government
- Member of the present National Assembly

Minister of State for Civil Society Issues
Adil Al-Assadi

- A Shia who is a member of the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA)

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs
Saad Tahir Abid

- A Sunni who is a member of the Consensus List

Minister of State
Mohammed Abbas Auraibi

- A Shia who is a member of the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA)

Minister of State
Ali Mohammed Ahmed

- A Kurd who is a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)

Minister of State
Hassan Rhadi Khazim

- A Shia who is a member of the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA)

About the Source: The Education for Peace in Iraq Center (EPIC) seeks to advance human rights, peace and development in Iraq through research, education and policy work.