Najmiddin Karim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Najmaldin Karim
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| Governor of Kirkuk | |
| In office 3 April 2011 – 16 October 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Abdul Rahman Mustafa |
| Member of the Council of Representatives | |
| In office 7 March 2010 – 2 April 2011 |
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| Constituency | Kirkuk |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1949 Kirkuk, Iraq |
| Died | (aged 71) Washington, D.C., United States |
| Cause of death | stroke following diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in fall of 2019 |
| Citizenship | Iraq United States |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | Zozan |
| Relations | Bakhtiyar (brother) Azad (brother) |
| Children | 4 (Three sons and a daughter) |
| Alma mater | George Washington University University of Mosul |
| Profession | Neurosurgeon |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Peshmerga |
| Years of service | 1972–1975 |
Najmaldin Karim (Kurdish: نەجمەدین کەریم) was a Kurdish politician from Iraq. He was born in 1949 and passed away on October 31, 2020. From 2011 to 2017, he served as the leader, or governor, of Kirkuk. Before 2003, he was part of groups that worked against the government in Iraq.
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Early Life and Education
Najmaldin Karim was born in Kirkuk in 1949. He lived there until he finished high school. After that, he moved to Mosul to study medicine at the University of Mosul.
While at university, he became interested in politics. In 1971, he was chosen to lead a student group for Kurds. A year later, in 1972, he joined the Peshmerga, which is a Kurdish military force.
Life in the United States
In 1975, Karim left Iraq. He later moved to the United States. There, he trained to become a brain surgeon at George Washington University. He then opened his own medical practice near Washington, D.C..
He became an American citizen and lived in the United States until 2009. During his time there, he was very active in supporting Kurdish rights. He also worked with groups that wanted to change the government in Iraq. He helped start the Kurdish National Congress of North America. He also set up the Washington Kurdish Institute.
Return to Iraq and Political Career
Najmaldin Karim returned to Iraq in 2009. He ran in the 2010 election for parliament. He was elected as a member of parliament for Kirkuk.
In 2011, he was chosen by Kirkuk's local council to be the governor. He officially started his role as governor on April 3, 2011. In the 2014 elections, he received a lot of support from people in Kirkuk. This helped Kurdish leaders gain more power in the province. Many people saw him as a leader who worked for everyone in Kirkuk, no matter their background.
Later Years as Governor
In September 2017, the Iraqi parliament decided to remove Karim from his position as governor. This happened because he supported a vote for Kurdish independence in Kirkuk. However, Karim said he would not leave his office. The local council in Kirkuk also disagreed with the parliament's decision. They said only the council could remove him.
In October 2017, Karim had to leave Kirkuk. This was after Iraqi federal forces and groups supported by Iran entered the province.
Personal Life
Najmaldin Karim had citizenship in both Iraq and the United States. Before he returned to Iraq, he lived in the United States with his wife and family. He also ran his medical practice there. He was a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan political party. He left the party on October 16, 2017.
Death
Najmaldin Karim passed away on October 31, 2020. He was 71 years old. He died in a hospital in the United States. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019. This type of cancer can increase the risk of a stroke, which he experienced.
