Abdul Latif Rashid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abdul Latif Rashid
|
|
|---|---|
|
لەتيف ڕەشید
|
|
.jpg)
Rashid in 2025
|
|
| 9th President of Iraq | |
| Assumed office 17 October 2022 |
|
| Prime Minister | Mustafa Al-Kadhimi Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani |
| Preceded by | Barham Salih |
| Minister of Water Resources | |
| In office September 2003 – December 2010 |
|
| Prime Minister | Ayad Allawi Ibrahim al-Jaafari Nouri al-Maliki |
| Preceded by | Coalition Provisional Authority |
| Succeeded by | Mohanad Salman al-Sady |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 August 1944 Sulaymaniyah, Kingdom of Iraq |
| Citizenship | |
| Nationality |
|
| Political party | PUK |
| Spouse | Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Jalal Talabani (brother-in-law) Ibrahim Ahmed (father-in-law) Hero Ibrahim Ahmed (sister-in-law) |
| Residences | Radwaniyah Palace, Baghdad, Iraq |
| Alma mater | |
Abdul Latif Rashid (born August 10, 1944) is an important Iraqi Kurdish politician. He is currently the ninth President of Iraq. He became president after the 2022 Iraqi presidential election. Before becoming president, he was the Minister of Water Resources. He held this job from 2003 to 2010. As Minister, he helped manage Iraq's water. This included water for farms, cities, and power. He also worked on preventing floods and protecting the environment.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Abdul Latif Rashid was born in 1944 in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan. This area was part of the Kingdom of Iraq at the time. He came from a well-known Kurdish family.
He studied in North Wales, where he took British A-Level exams. Later, he went to university in England. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Liverpool University in 1968. He continued his studies at Manchester University. There, he earned a Master's degree in 1973 and a Ph.D. in Engineering in 1978.
After finishing his first degree, he became a lecturer. He taught at the University of Sulaymaniah in 1969. When he returned to Iraq, he joined the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). This political group was led by Jalal Talabani, who was his brother-in-law.
Professional Career and Expertise
Abdul Latif Rashid has worked on many projects. These projects focused on engineering and farming improvements. He was a senior Project Manager for the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO). He worked for them in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
He is a skilled engineer. He is a member of the Institution of Civil Engineering. He is also part of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID). He has worked as a consultant for projects about water and irrigation. He also worked with the Water Engineering Administration.
In 1992, Rashid was chosen as vice president of the Iraqi National Congress (INC). In 1998, he was elected to the INC's leadership group.
Political Journey
Beyond his engineering work, Rashid has been very active in politics. He has worked in both Kurdish and Iraqi politics. In 1986, he became the spokesperson for the PUK in the United Kingdom.
He attended many important meetings and conferences. He represented Kurdish political parties and Iraqi opposition groups. These groups were against Saddam Hussein's government. He also spoke for these groups with international organizations and governments.
In 2003, he became the Minister of Water Resources. He held this important job until 2010. After that, he worked as a presidential adviser starting in 2010.
Becoming President of Iraq
In Iraq, there is an agreement for sharing power. This agreement helps different groups work together. A Sunni Kurd is usually chosen as president. A Shia Arab becomes prime minister. A Sunni Arab is chosen as the speaker of parliament.
On October 13, 2022, Abdul Latif Rashid was elected as the ninth President of Iraq. This happened after the Saddam Hussein regime ended. Rashid took over from Barham Salih. He won the vote in parliament with more than 162 votes. He immediately chose Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani to be the new prime minister. This decision helped end a long political disagreement that had lasted for a year.
International Relations
President Rashid believes in good relationships with Iraq's neighbors. He said that improving ties with countries like Iran, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Jordan makes Iraq stronger.
However, he has spoken out when he feels Iraq's borders are not respected. For example, in April 2023, he criticized an alleged attack near Sulaimaniyah airport. He said that Turkey should not violate Iraq's independence.
Rashid also shared his thoughts on the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He said the invasion was needed because Saddam Hussein's rule was very harsh. He believes that after twenty years, Iraq now has peace and safety. But he also noted that some important public projects, like transport, have not been finished. He thinks this is due to ongoing issues with corruption.
Personal Life
Abdul Latif Rashid is married to Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed. They have three children together.
See also
In Spanish: Abdul Latif Rashid para niños
