Tawfiq al-Suwaidi
Encyclopedia
Tawfiq al-Suwaidi was an Iraq
i politician who served as Prime Minister of Iraq
on three occasions:
Al-Suwaidi was born in Baghdad in 1892, he completed his early schooling at sixteen and after a year in the local law college, travelled to Istanbul in 1909 where he continued his studies in the Istanbul College of Law.
After completing his studies in Istanbul (graduation 1912) Tawfiq al-Suwaidi's was sent to the Sorbonne
in Paris, by his father, to further his Law education.
Al - Suwaidi finally returned to Iraq after finishing his studies in Paris in 1914. He joined the Ministry of Education as a secretary to the committee for the renovation of Shamsuddin Sami's famous French-Turkish Dictionary.
During the first world war, as well as working as a lawyer, Al -Suwaidi worked as a teacher in the Law college in Damascus, teaching Roman and general international law. He accepted these posts after rejecting a judgeship in Dair al - Zor and resigning from a judgeship in Damascus - al-Suwaidi was adamant to take a professional salary paying position rather than a position of prestige in order to repay his father for his European education.
It was in 1928, upon the resignation of the Saadan ministry, that Tawfik al- Sowaidi was appointed premier and called to form his first cabinet. He thus became the youngest premier in Iraq's history.
Iraq was granted membership to the league of nations in 1932 and due to his fluency in foreign languages, particularly French, the then diplomatic language, Tawfiq al-suwaidi was chosen as Iraq's first permanent representative.
In addition to serving as prime minister, Al - suwaidi also held posts as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice, the Controller general of state accounts; and separate from his ministerial roles, al-Suwaidi served as a member of the regency council (performing the duties of king or regent at times in which they were absent from the country), a leader of the Iraqui delegation to the league of nations and a leader of the delegation to the united nations.
In 1958, Tawfiq al Suwaidi was selected as the Foreign affairs minister under his own federation. However, this post was dissolved when the royal regime fell on July 14, 1958.
Because of his close ties to the crown, Suwaidi was arrested in 1958 during the revolution that overthrew the monarchy. Sentenced to life in prison, he was pardoned in 1961 and went into exile in Lebanon
, where he died.
Al - Suwaidi was lovingly married, his wife bore three children, Selwa al-Suwaidi, Luay al-Suwaidi and Selma al-Suwaidi.
The oldest child, Selwa Al-Suwaidi died in 2006. Luay al-Suwaidi, and his younger sister Selma al - Suwaidi are living and currently reside in London, England. Luay al- Suwaidi is currently married and the father to two children, grandchildren of Tawfiq al -Suwaidi.
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 who served as Prime Minister of Iraq
Prime Minister of Iraq
The Prime Minister of Iraq is Iraq's head of government. Prime Minister was originally an appointed office, subsidiary to the head of state, and the nominal leader of the Iraqi parliament. Under the newly adopted constitution the Prime Minister is to be the country's active executive authority...
on three occasions:
- April 28, 1929 - August 25, 1929
- February 23, 1946 - May 31, 1946
- February 5, 1950 - September 4, 1950.
Al-Suwaidi was born in Baghdad in 1892, he completed his early schooling at sixteen and after a year in the local law college, travelled to Istanbul in 1909 where he continued his studies in the Istanbul College of Law.
After completing his studies in Istanbul (graduation 1912) Tawfiq al-Suwaidi's was sent to the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in Paris, by his father, to further his Law education.
Al - Suwaidi finally returned to Iraq after finishing his studies in Paris in 1914. He joined the Ministry of Education as a secretary to the committee for the renovation of Shamsuddin Sami's famous French-Turkish Dictionary.
During the first world war, as well as working as a lawyer, Al -Suwaidi worked as a teacher in the Law college in Damascus, teaching Roman and general international law. He accepted these posts after rejecting a judgeship in Dair al - Zor and resigning from a judgeship in Damascus - al-Suwaidi was adamant to take a professional salary paying position rather than a position of prestige in order to repay his father for his European education.
It was in 1928, upon the resignation of the Saadan ministry, that Tawfik al- Sowaidi was appointed premier and called to form his first cabinet. He thus became the youngest premier in Iraq's history.
Iraq was granted membership to the league of nations in 1932 and due to his fluency in foreign languages, particularly French, the then diplomatic language, Tawfiq al-suwaidi was chosen as Iraq's first permanent representative.
In addition to serving as prime minister, Al - suwaidi also held posts as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice, the Controller general of state accounts; and separate from his ministerial roles, al-Suwaidi served as a member of the regency council (performing the duties of king or regent at times in which they were absent from the country), a leader of the Iraqui delegation to the league of nations and a leader of the delegation to the united nations.
In 1958, Tawfiq al Suwaidi was selected as the Foreign affairs minister under his own federation. However, this post was dissolved when the royal regime fell on July 14, 1958.
Because of his close ties to the crown, Suwaidi was arrested in 1958 during the revolution that overthrew the monarchy. Sentenced to life in prison, he was pardoned in 1961 and went into exile in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, where he died.
Al - Suwaidi was lovingly married, his wife bore three children, Selwa al-Suwaidi, Luay al-Suwaidi and Selma al-Suwaidi.
The oldest child, Selwa Al-Suwaidi died in 2006. Luay al-Suwaidi, and his younger sister Selma al - Suwaidi are living and currently reside in London, England. Luay al- Suwaidi is currently married and the father to two children, grandchildren of Tawfiq al -Suwaidi.