Ayad Allawi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ayad Allawi
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إيَاد عَلَّاوِي
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Allawi in 2010
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| Vice President of Iraq | |
| In office 10 October 2016 – 2 October 2018 Serving with Osama al-Nujaifi and Nouri al-Maliki
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| President | Fuad Masum |
| Preceded by | Himself |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| In office 8 September 2014 – 11 August 2015 Serving with Osama al-Nujaifi and Nouri al-Maliki
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| President | Fuad Masum |
| Preceded by | Khodair al-Khozaei |
| Succeeded by | Himself |
| Prime Minister of Iraq | |
| In office 1 June 2004 – 3 May 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer (President of the Governing Council) |
| Succeeded by | Ibrahim al-Jaafari |
| President of the Governing Council of Iraq | |
| In office 1 October 2003 – 31 October 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Ahmed Chalabi |
| Succeeded by | Jalal Talabani |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 May 1944 Adhamiyah, Baghdad, Kingdom of Iraq |
| Political party | Iraqi National Accord (1991–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Al-Wataniya (December 2012–present) Iraqi National Movement (2009–2012) |
| Alma mater | University of London |
| Profession | Neurologist |
| Website | |
Ayad Allawi (born 31 May 1944) is an important Iraqi politician. His name is sometimes also spelled Iyad or Eyad.
He served as the vice president of Iraq twice. First from 2014 to 2015, and then again from 2016 to 2018. Before that, he was the temporary prime minister of Iraq from 2004 to 2005. He also led the Iraqi Governing Council in 2003.
Allawi was a political activist who lived outside Iraq for nearly 30 years. He is a Shia Muslim. After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, he became part of the Iraq Interim Governing Council. This council was set up by the countries that led the invasion. On 1 June 2004, he became Iraq's first head of government after Saddam Hussein. His time as prime minister ended in April 2005.
Allawi used to be a member of the Ba'ath Party. He later helped create the Iraqi National Accord (INA), which is still an active political party today. He has lived about half of his life in the United Kingdom. His family lives there for their safety. He survived attempts on his life in 1978, 2004, and 2005.
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Ayad Allawi's Early Life
Ayad Allawi was born in 1944. His family was well-known and involved in trade. His grandfather helped Iraq become independent from Britain. His father was a member of the Iraqi Parliament.
Allawi became interested in politics when he was young. He studied medicine at Baghdad University in the 1960s. He also went to Baghdad College, a Catholic high school and college. He earned a master's degree from University College in London. He then worked at Guy's Hospital.
Allawi has three children. One of his sons, Hamza, studies in a school in Surrey, England. Allawi is related to Ahmed Chalabi, another important Iraqi politician.
How Allawi Started in Politics
In 1971, Allawi moved to London. He wanted to continue his medical studies. He also had disagreements with the Ba'ath party. He officially left the Ba'ath party in 1975. He felt that Saddam Hussein was gaining too much control.
In 1978, Allawi was attacked at his home in Surrey. An attacker used an axe, leaving him badly hurt. He spent a year in the hospital recovering. His first wife, Atour, was also injured. Many believe this attack was an attempt to kill him, ordered by Saddam Hussein.
The Iraqi National Accord (INA)
While recovering from the attack, Allawi began to organize a group against Saddam Hussein's government. Throughout the 1980s, he built this network. He recruited Iraqis while traveling for business and for the UNDP.
In December 1990, Allawi announced the creation of the Iraqi National Accord (INA). This group worked to oppose Saddam Hussein. The INA received support from countries like the UK, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United States. The group was mostly made up of former military members who had left Saddam Hussein's army.
The INA shared information with British Intelligence before the 2003 invasion. This information suggested that Iraq might have dangerous weapons. This claim was used by the British government to gain support for the war.
After Saddam Hussein's Rule
After Saddam Hussein's government fell in 2003, a group called the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) was set up. This group managed Iraq until it could govern itself again. The CPA chose 25 Iraqi politicians to form the Governing Council. Ayad Allawi was one of them.
Allawi served as the Minister of Defence in this council. He also held the rotating position of president of the interim governing council in October 2003.
In December 2003, Allawi traveled to the CIA headquarters in the US. He discussed plans to create a new Iraqi secret service. This agency, called the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, was set up in March 2004. Its main goal was to fight terrorist groups.
Becoming Interim Prime Minister
On 28 May 2004, the Governing Council chose Allawi to be the temporary Prime Minister of Iraq. He would lead the country after the US handed over power. This happened on 28 June 2004.
When he became prime minister, Allawi was seen as a moderate leader. He was a Shia Muslim, which is the majority faith in Iraq. But he was chosen for his neutral, national views.
Allawi's government brought back the capital punishment. He promised not to interfere with Saddam Hussein's trial. He said he would accept any court decisions.
His government also created a new rule. This rule allowed the government to declare martial law, set curfews, and arrest suspects. Allawi wanted to reach out to Iraqi fighters who had fought the Coalition. He aimed to separate them from foreign groups like Musab al-Zarqawi's network.
During the summer of 2004, Allawi made some tough decisions. These decisions showed Iraqis that he was a strong leader. He was not afraid to use force to bring back law and order. He supported military actions in Najaf and Falluja. This made him unpopular with some Iraqis at the time. He also created a new spy agency, the General Security Directorate. Its job was to fight terrorist groups and the Iraqi insurgency.
Allawi led the Iraqi National Accord in the January 2005 Iraqi election. His party came in third place. In the 2010 elections, Allawi's group won the most votes. They beat the current Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki by two seats.
After Being Prime Minister
For the December 2005 parliamentary elections, Allawi formed a new group. It included many different parties, both Sunni and Shia, and even the Iraqi Communist Party. This group was called the Iraqi National List.
Allawi's party was part of the government led by Nouri al-Maliki. But Allawi himself did not take a Cabinet job. His party later left the government in 2007.
Before the 2010 elections, Allawi formed another new group. It was called the Iraqi National Movement. This group included other important politicians.
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On 8 September 2014, he was appointed one of the three Vice Presidents of Iraq. This was under the new Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. In August 2015, the Parliament approved a plan to remove the three vice president positions. However, the Supreme Court of Iraq later said this was against the constitution. So, the three Vice President posts were brought back on 10 October 2016.
In April 2017, Allawi said he had information that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group was talking with al-Qaeda. He believed they might form an alliance. He also said that even if ISIS lost its land, it would continue to fight using hidden groups.
Allawi has stated that "the Iraqi people are longing for the days of Saddam Hussein".
Personal Life
Ayad Allawi has faced several attempts on his life. These attempts happened in England and the Middle East. They were believed to be by agents of Saddam Hussein's government.
Documents from 2016 showed that Allawi owned companies in other countries. These companies held property for him, including a house near London. His media contact said these companies were set up for security reasons. This was after an attempt on his life. Any money earned from these properties was reported, and taxes were paid correctly.
He is a cousin of Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi.
Images for kids
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Allawi in 2010
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Allawi meets with U.S. President George W. Bush in New York, 21 September 2004
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Allawi meets with Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in London on 8 June 2015.
See also
In Spanish: Iyad Alaui para niños
