Ayad Allawi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ayad Allawi
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إياد علاوي
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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 |
| Citizenship | Iraq United Kingdom |
| Political party | Iraqi National Accord (1991–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Al-Wataniya (December 2012–present) Iraqi National Movement (2009–2012) Ba'ath Party (1961–1976) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Ahmed Chalabi (cousin) Ali Allawi (cousin) Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi (cousin) |
| Alma mater | University College London |
| Profession | Neurologist |
| Website | |
Ayad Allawi (born 31 May 1944) is an Iraqi-British politician and a doctor who specializes in the nervous system (a Neurologist). He has held important roles in the Iraqi government. He served as the Vice President of Iraq from 2014 to 2015 and 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 well-known Iraqi 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 U.S.-led forces. On 1 June 2004, he became Iraq's first head of government since Saddam Hussein. His time as prime minister ended in April 2005.
Allawi was once a member of the Ba'ath Party. He later helped create the Iraqi National Accord, which is still an active political party today. He has spent about half his life living in the United Kingdom. His family lives there for their safety.
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Ayad Allawi's Early Life and Education
Ayad Allawi was born in 1944 into a well-known Shiite merchant family. His grandfather helped Iraq gain independence from Britain. His father was a member of the Iraqi Parliament.
Allawi became interested in politics at a young age. He joined the Ba'ath Party in 1961 while studying medicine at Baghdad University. He also attended Baghdad College, a Catholic high school and college. He later earned a master's degree from University College London. He also worked at Guy's Hospital. Allawi has three children. He became a British citizen by the 1980s.
Starting His Political Journey
In 1971, Allawi moved to London to continue his medical studies. He also had disagreements with the Ba'ath Party. He left the Ba'ath Party in 1976. He felt that Saddam Hussein was gaining too much control.
In 1978, Allawi was attacked in his home in Kingston upon Thames. He survived the attack and spent a year recovering. He believed the Iraqi government was behind the attack.
Forming the Iraqi National Accord
While recovering, Allawi began building a group to oppose the government of Saddam Hussein. He worked on this network throughout the 1980s. He recruited Iraqis during his travels as a businessman.
In December 1990, Allawi announced the creation of the Iraqi National Accord (INA). This group mainly consisted of former military members. They had left Saddam Hussein's Iraq. The INA aimed to bring about a change in leadership. The INA received support from countries like the UK and the United States.
The INA shared information with British Intelligence. This information suggested Iraq could use its alleged weapons of mass destruction quickly. This claim was important in a report released by the British government in 2002. This report aimed to gain public support for the Iraq invasion.
After Saddam Hussein's Rule
After Saddam Hussein's government fell in 2003, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) was set up. This group managed Iraq until a new government could be formed. The CPA chose 25 Iraqi politicians to form the Governing Council. Allawi was one of them. He served as the Minister of Defence. He also held the rotating leadership of the interim governing council in October 2003.
In December 2003, Allawi traveled to the CIA headquarters. He discussed plans for creating a new Iraqi secret service. This agency, called the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, was set up in March 2004.
Becoming Interim Prime Minister
On 28 May 2004, the Governing Council chose Allawi to be the temporary Prime Minister of Iraq. He was to lead the country after the U.S. handed over power. This handover happened on 28 June 2004. Allawi and the Iraqi Interim Government were sworn in that day.
When he was chosen, Allawi was seen as a moderate leader. He was a Shia, from Iraq's majority faith. His government brought back capital punishment. Allawi said he would not interfere with court decisions.
His government also created a new rule. This rule allowed the government to declare martial law. This meant they could impose curfews and arrest suspects. Allawi also wanted to offer amnesty (forgiveness) to some insurgents. These were Iraqis who had fought against the U.S.-led forces for "patriotic reasons."
During the summer of 2004, Allawi made some tough decisions. He supported military actions in Najaf and Falluja. These decisions were unpopular with some Iraqis at the time. However, they showed that Allawi was a strong leader. He was willing to use force to restore order. He also announced the creation of a new spy agency. Its main job was to fight terrorist groups.
Allawi led the Iraqi National Accord in the January 2005 Iraqi election. His party came in third place. They received 14% of the votes. 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. This group included different secular (non-religious) Sunni and Shia groups. It also included the Iraqi Communist Party. This alliance was called the Iraqi National List.
The Iraqi National List was part of the government led by Nouri al-Maliki. However, Allawi himself did not take a Cabinet position. His party later left the government in 2007. For the next national elections, Allawi formed a new group. It was called the Iraqi National Movement.
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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 posts. However, the Supreme Court of Iraq later restored these posts on 10 October 2016. The court said removing them was against the Iraqi Constitution.
In April 2017, Allawi said he had information that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group was talking with al-Qaeda. They were discussing a possible alliance. He also said that even if the group lost its territory, its hidden cells would continue to cause trouble.
Allawi's Personal Life
Ayad Allawi has reportedly faced several attempts on his life. These attempts happened in England and the Middle East.
Documents from the Panama Papers in 2016 showed that Allawi owned companies registered in other countries. These companies owned property in London. His media contact confirmed he owned these companies. They stated that the companies were set up to own real estate for security reasons. This was based on legal advice after an attack on him. Any income from these properties was reported, and taxes were paid correctly.
He is related to Ahmed Chalabi, Ali Allawi, and Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi.
Allawi has two daughters, Sarah (born 1988) and Najat (born 1989). He also has one son, Alhamza (born 1996). His son, Alhamza, died on 4 May 2025 in Ibn Sina Hospital, Baghdad.
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
