Biography

Allawi Family History

Ayad Hashim Allawi stems from a family active in Iraqi political affairs for over a hundred years.

His great grandfather, Haji Allawi, upon which the modern family name became known, was jointly responsible with two other leading politicians (Kubba and Abu Al-Timman) for Baghdad's affairs under Ottoman rule.

Haji Allawi’s son, Hussein was one of the founders of the nationalist Al-Nahtha Party with Sheikh Ameen Al-Charchafchi. Following the war, he was also one of the Honourables who formed the Iraqi government to form the first post-Ottoman Iraqi government in 1920s.

Ayad's father and uncles followed into the tradition of serving Iraqi people by becoming Ministers (including Ministries of Health, Housing, Social Affairs, Planning and Transport), and holding other positions of responsibility including heading the health districts of Amara, Najaf and Karbala as well as becoming hospital directors.

Such tradition continued with Ayad himself becoming Prime Minister of Iraq in 2005, and two of his cousins subsequently becoming Ministers.

All members of the Allawi household rose to such positions because of their own merits, namely honesty, sincerity and capability.

Ayad Allawi

Ayad graduated from the Medical School at Baghdad University in 1970. He later moved to London where he completed his Msc and PhD at the University of London.

Whilst at Baghdad University he worked with Al-Baath party (at the time a nationalist socialist party) and later he differed with the methods used by the party thus moving to London. He continued working for Iraq, this time fighting the new dictatorial regime that had come to power under Saddam's hand.

During this time he also worked as a consultant for the various UN departments including UNDP, UNICEF and WHO.

In 1975, he completely disassociated himself from the Baath party and handed in a formal resignation. His continued and effective work against the regime in Iraq led to assassins being sent to his London residence, and the failed attempt left him hospitalised for over a year. He continued in clandestine work and only in 1990 did he publicly announce the existence of Iraqi National Accord which comprised a large number of politicians, political parties and military men who were working to bring down the regime in Iraq. Throughout the 1990s, assassination attempts continued on Ayad and his family (with some unfortunate consequences), with all Allawi family assets being confiscated by the regime.

With the fall of the regime in 2003, Ayad became a Member of Presidency of the Governing Council and Chairman of Governing Council Security Committee.

In 2004 the Governing Council unanimously elected Ayad to become the first post-war Prime Minister of Iraq.

Currently he is the Chairman of the Iraqi National List, a parliamentary bloc that advocates a nationalist agenda, far-removed from sectarianism and is also Head of the Iraqi National Accord.