Kasim Muhammad Taqi al-Sahlani
Encyclopedia
Kasim Muhammad Taqi al-Sahlani (1949 - 21 June 2009) was an Iraq
i politician. He was a member of the National Assembly of Iraq
and was the head of the parliamentary bloc of the Islamic Dawa Party - Iraq Organisation
, the fifth largest party within the ruling United Iraqi Alliance
coalition. Further, he was a member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee.
. Whilst teaching he also studied at the Al-Mustansiriya University
. He graduated with a BA in Counselling, Guidance and Psychology.
In 1979 Al-Sahlani left Iraq for the USA where he studied for his PhD in Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh
. Unfortunately, he was unable to complete the PhD as he was pursued and harassed incessantly by members of the Baathist regime (Mokabaraat), and forced to abandon his studies. The next few years saw him travel to many countries before finally settling in the UK where he became an important figure in the Iraqi opposition to Saddam
’s regime.
Kasim al-Sahlani joined the Islamic Dawa Party
in 1968 and became part of its leadership in 1994. He was one of the first members of the Iraqi opposition to return to Iraq and begin his work in rebuilding the war torn country,
In 2004, Al-Sahlani was elected as a member of The National Council which consisted of 100 members: 81 members were elected to the interim National Council, and 19 members previously selected from the Governing Council. In the general elections of 2005 he was elected to the Council of Representatives of Iraq and became the head of the parliamentary bloc of the Islamic Dawa Party - Iraq Organisation
. Mohammed Kasim al-Sahlani, the eldest of his three sons, is an Iraqi diplomat working in the UK.
Kasim al-Sahlani was killed in a traffic accident (21/06/2009), while travelling on official duties from Basra
to Nasiriyah
. His sudden death saw thousands of mourners turning out to pay their final respects all over Iraq and especially in the cities of Nasiriyah and Najaf
as his body was transported to its final resting place.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i politician. He was a member of the National Assembly of Iraq
National Assembly of Iraq
The Council of Representatives of Iraq is the main elected body of representatives in Iraq. It is currently composed of 325 seats and meets in Baghdad inside the International Zone . It is governed by bylaws that can be found -The monarchy:...
and was the head of the parliamentary bloc of the Islamic Dawa Party - Iraq Organisation
Islamic Dawa Party - Iraq Organisation
The Islamic Dawa Party was formed in 1957 in the Iraqi holy City of Najaf. Their aim was to create a movement which would promote Islamic values and ethics, and which would become an instrument for political activeness. This came at a time when there was widespread ignorance about religion and...
, the fifth largest party within the ruling United Iraqi Alliance
United Iraqi Alliance
The National Iraqi Alliance , also known as the Watani List, is an Iraqi electoral coalition that contested the Iraqi legislative election, 2010. The Alliance is mainly composed of Shi'a Islamist parties...
coalition. Further, he was a member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee.
Biography
Al-Sahlani was born in Maysan in 1949. His Father Mohammad Taqi Ali al-Sahlani was the Chief Administrator of the Maysan Governorate. Kasim al-Sahlani graduated from the Maysan Teaching Institute in 1969 and became a primary school teacher in BaghdadBaghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. Whilst teaching he also studied at the Al-Mustansiriya University
Al-Mustansiriya University
Al-Mustansiriya University is a university located in Baghdad, Iraq. It was established in 1227 by the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustansir and is one of the oldest universities in the world. Formerly named Mustansiriya Madrasah, it was restructured as a modern university in 1927...
. He graduated with a BA in Counselling, Guidance and Psychology.
In 1979 Al-Sahlani left Iraq for the USA where he studied for his PhD in Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. Unfortunately, he was unable to complete the PhD as he was pursued and harassed incessantly by members of the Baathist regime (Mokabaraat), and forced to abandon his studies. The next few years saw him travel to many countries before finally settling in the UK where he became an important figure in the Iraqi opposition to Saddam
Saddam
–Saddam is an Arabic name which means "One who confronts", other meanings include: "One who frequently causes collisions", "Powerful collider", "One who causes a collision that had bad results", "Powerful confronter", "One who frequently crashes", or "Powerful commander"...
’s regime.
Kasim al-Sahlani joined the Islamic Dawa Party
Islamic Dawa Party
The Islamic Dawa Party or Islamic Call Party is a political party in Iraq. Dawa and the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council are two of the main parties in the religious-Shiite United Iraqi Alliance, which won a plurality of seats in both the provisional January 2005 Iraqi election and the longer-term...
in 1968 and became part of its leadership in 1994. He was one of the first members of the Iraqi opposition to return to Iraq and begin his work in rebuilding the war torn country,
In 2004, Al-Sahlani was elected as a member of The National Council which consisted of 100 members: 81 members were elected to the interim National Council, and 19 members previously selected from the Governing Council. In the general elections of 2005 he was elected to the Council of Representatives of Iraq and became the head of the parliamentary bloc of the Islamic Dawa Party - Iraq Organisation
Islamic Dawa Party - Iraq Organisation
The Islamic Dawa Party was formed in 1957 in the Iraqi holy City of Najaf. Their aim was to create a movement which would promote Islamic values and ethics, and which would become an instrument for political activeness. This came at a time when there was widespread ignorance about religion and...
. Mohammed Kasim al-Sahlani, the eldest of his three sons, is an Iraqi diplomat working in the UK.
Kasim al-Sahlani was killed in a traffic accident (21/06/2009), while travelling on official duties from Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
to Nasiriyah
Nasiriyah
Nasiriyah is a city in Iraq. It is on the Euphrates about 225 miles southeast of Baghdad, near the ruins of the ancient city of Ur. It is the capital of the province of Dhi Qar...
. His sudden death saw thousands of mourners turning out to pay their final respects all over Iraq and especially in the cities of Nasiriyah and Najaf
Najaf
Najaf is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2008 is 560,000 people. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate...
as his body was transported to its final resting place.