Barham Salih

Salih was born in 1960 in Sulaymaniyah. He was arrested in 1979 by the Ba'athist regime twice on charges of involvement in the Kurdish national movement by taking some photos of protesters in Sulaimaniyah city and spent 43 days in detention in a Special Investigation Commission prison in Kirkuk where he was tortured.{{cite web|title=Barham Salih: Biography and Profile |year=2009 |url=http://www.barhamsalih.net/pages/16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091120060742/http://www.barhamsalih.net/pages/16 |archive-date=20 November 2009 |url-status=dead }} Once released, he finished high school and left Iraq for the United Kingdom to flee continued persecution.

Salih is married to Sarbagh Salih, the head and founding member of the Kurdish Botanical Foundation and a women's rights activist.{{cite web|title=Dr. Barham Salih, Deputy prime minister, Republic of Iraq |publisher=Brookings Institution |date=13 September 2006 |url=http://www.brookings.edu/comm/events/20060913Salih_bio.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103061419/http://www3.brookings.edu/comm/events/20060913Salih_bio.pdf |archive-date=3 November 2007 |url-status=dead }} The couple have two children.{{cite web|script-title= ar:من هو الرئيس العراقي الجديد |trans-title=Who is the new Iraqi president? |newspaper=Al Sumaria TV |language=ar |url=https://www.alsumaria.tv/mobile/news/248956/iraq-news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004010805/https://www.alsumaria.tv/mobile/news/248956/iraq-news |archive-date=4 October 2018 |url-status=live }}

Barham Salih joined the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in late 1976 where he became a member of the PUK department of Europe, and was in charge of PUK foreign relations in London. In addition to the political struggle, he finished his university studies and received a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering and Construction from the Cardiff University in 1983. He continued to study and obtained a Doctorate degree in Statistics and Computer Applications in Engineering from the University of Liverpool in 1987.

He was elected a member of the PUK leadership at the first party conference when Iraqi Kurdistan was liberated from the Ba'ath Party following the Persian Gulf War. He was assigned the task of heading the PUK Office in the United States.

After the fall of the Ba'athist regime in 2003, he became Deputy Prime Minister in the Interim Iraqi Government in mid-2004, Minister of Planning in the Transitional Government in 2005, and Deputy Prime Minister in the elected Iraqi Government (Nouri al-Maliki's Cabinet) in charge of the economic portfolio and Head of the Economic Committee. Representing the Iraqi Government, he launched the International Compact with Iraq – an initiative of mutual commitment between Iraq and the international community to help Iraq in meeting its obligations of "building a prosperous, democratic and federal country, in peace with itself and with the region and the world".

Salih appeared on The Colbert Report on 10 June 2009, broadcast from Baghdad, and was interviewed by the host. He praised the U.S. military for sending troops into Iraq, and acknowledged that many Kurds desire independence.

Barham Salih spearheaded the Kurdistani List in the 2009 Iraqi Kurdistan legislative election. The list won 59 of 111 seats. He succeeded Nechervan Idris Barzani as the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government. His term was marked by turbulence with the rise of an opposition (Movement for Change) to challenge the government while his own party was scrambling to stay together after losing the stronghold city of Sulaymaniyah. He survived the first motion of no confidence in Iraqi Kurdistan following the 2011 Kurdish protests in Iraq. He signed the first major oil contract with ExxonMobil after drafting and amending a new oil law.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/exxon-kurdistan-idUSL5E7MD04G20111113 |title=Iraqi Kurdistan confirms Exxon oil deal-minister |date=13 November 2011 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=18 February 2012 |archive-date=30 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130205842/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/13/exxon-kurdistan-idUSL5E7MD04G20111113 |url-status=live }} He relinquished the post of Prime Minister to Nechervan Idris Barzani on 5 April 2012 as part of a political agreement between the ruling KDP–PUK coalition.{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-05/nechirvan-barzani-to-take-over-as-iraq-kurd-premier-on-march-7.html |publisher=Bloomberg |first=Nayla |last=Razzouk |title=Nechirvan Barzani to Take Over as Iraq Kurd Premier on March 7 |date=5 March 2012 |access-date=5 March 2017 |archive-date=20 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020003836/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-05/nechirvan-barzani-to-take-over-as-iraq-kurd-premier-on-march-7.html |url-status=live }}

In September 2017, Salih announced that he was leaving the PUK and forming a new opposition party, the Coalition for Democracy and Justice, to compete in the forthcoming Iraqi Kurdistan elections. Following the death of PUK leader Jalal Talabani and the Kurdish opposition leader Nawshirwan Mustafa, the alliance was seen to have the potential to change the Kurdish political landscape. He said he hoped to gather all the other opposition parties, including Gorran and Komal, to challenge the governing KDP–PUK alliance.{{Cite news|url=http://www.niqash.org/en/articles/politics/5750/Kurdish-Political-Heavyweight-Announces-Plan-To-Shake-Up-Local-Voters.htm|title=Kurdish Political Heavyweight Announces Plan To Shake Up Local Voters|last=Rasheed|first=Honar Hama|work=Niqash|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424183600/http://www.niqash.org/en/articles/politics/5750/Kurdish-Political-Heavyweight-Announces-Plan-To-Shake-Up-Local-Voters.htm|archive-date=24 April 2018|url-status=dead}}

In the 2018 Iraqi parliamentary election, it won two seats.{{cite news |last1=Editorial staff |title=Barham Salih returns to PUK and nominated as candidate for Iraq presidency |url=https://ekurd.net/barham-salih-iraq-presidency-2018-09-19 |access-date=25 March 2024 |agency=Ekurd |date=21 November 2018}} On September 19, 2018, Barham Salih left the party to rejoin the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, which nominated him as a candidate for Iraq's Presidency. Others joined Salih in his return to PUK, but the party leadership made clear that it would not be going to disband itself. On 9 November 2018, the party held a conference, where it renamed itself to National Coalition and elected Aram Qadirî as its leader. There were some legal problems, which were solved at the beginning of December, when the Independent High Electoral Commission moved to legally dissolve the no longer existing CDJ.{{cite news |last1=Editorial staff |title=ھاوپەیمانیی نیشتمانی پێشوازی‌ له‌هه‌ڵوه‌شاندنه‌وه‌ی‌ "هاوپەیمانی بۆ دیموكراسی‌و دادپەروەری" ده‌كات |url=https://www.awene.com/view.aspx?article=1592 |access-date=25 March 2024 |agency=Awene |date=2 December 2018}}

On 2 October 2018, Barham Salih was elected as the eighth president of Iraq.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-45722528 |title=New Iraq President Barham Saleh names Adel Abdul Mahdi as PM |date=2 October 2018 |publisher=BBC |access-date=4 October 2018 |archive-date=9 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909085137/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-45722528 |url-status=live }} He received 219 votes and defeated Fuad Hussein who secured 22 votes.{{cite web |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/moderate-saleh-wins-iraq-presidency/news-story/3838badbeb03e89df998bebe6fc07225 |title=Moderate Saleh wins Iraq presidency |publisher=The Australian |access-date=4 October 2018 |archive-date=27 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527222745/https://login.newscorpaustralia.com/authorize?client_id=HftEQUnDM7g7u3R0AnMT4wVF5k27TQMU&response_type=token%20id_token&scope=openid%20profile&audience=newscorpaustralia&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fremote%2Fidentity%2Fauth%2Flatest%2Flogin%2Fcallback.html&state=3A_b__HtlGwAC-6mSN6Ym~tXwEcS5vxy&nonce=qAEwKp72gXy-rnZw84q1_ZbhMrPTAnR~&response_mode=web_message&prompt=none&auth0Client=eyJuYW1lIjoiYXV0aDAuanMiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjoiOS4xNi4wIn0%3D |url-status=live }}

Salih condemned the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria, stating that it "will cause untold humanitarian suffering, empower terrorist groups. The world must unite to avert a catastrophe, promote political resolution to the rights of all Syrians, including Kurds, to peace, dignity and security".{{cite news |title=World reacts to Turkey's military operation in northeast Syria |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/world-reacts-turkey-military-operation-northeast-syria-191009181335266.html |work=Al-Jazeera |date=10 October 2019 |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=17 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917220921/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/world-reacts-turkey-military-operation-northeast-syria-191009181335266.html |url-status=live }}

File:Secretary Pompeo Meets With Iraq President Salih (48778639827).jpg Michael R. Pompeo on the margins of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 22, 2019.]]

In March 2019, Salih submitted the groundbreaking “Yazidi Female Survivors Law” to Parliament for review.{{Cite web|title="Yazidi Female Survivors Law" in Iraq is groundbreaking but not enough|url=https://www.openglobalrights.org/yazidi-female-survivors-law-in-iraq-is-groundbreaking-but-not-enough/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=OpenGlobalRights|language=en|archive-date=14 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114081237/https://www.openglobalrights.org/yazidi-female-survivors-law-in-iraq-is-groundbreaking-but-not-enough/|url-status=live}} The ground-breaking bill set forth a number of reparation measures for female Yazidi survivors of captivity.{{Cite web|date=2019-04-26|title=Iraq's Reparation Bill for Yazidi Female Survivors: More Progress Needed|url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mec/2019/04/26/iraqs-reparation-bill-for-yazidi-female-survivors-more-progress-needed/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Middle East Centre|archive-date=21 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121200624/https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mec/2019/04/26/iraqs-reparation-bill-for-yazidi-female-survivors-more-progress-needed/|url-status=live}} It was seen by the Yazidi leaders as an important step toward a secure future for the survivors, and so they could move on and rebuild their homes, which were destroyed by IS fighting.{{Cite web|title=Yazidis Push for Reparation Bill in Iraqi Parliament|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/extremism-watch_yazidis-push-reparation-bill-iraqi-parliament/6184476.html|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Voice of America|date=19 February 2020 |language=en|archive-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115005809/https://www.voanews.com/extremism-watch/yazidis-push-reparation-bill-iraqi-parliament|url-status=live}} On 1 March 2021, Parliament passed the Yazidi [Female] Survivors Bill into law, and the law was welcomed by Nadia Murad as "an important first step in acknowledging the gender-based trauma of sexual violence and need for tangible redress."{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2021/03/04/iraq-adopts-new-law-to-assist-survivors-of-the-daesh-genocide/|title=Iraq Adopts New Law To Assist Survivors Of The Daesh Genocide|last=Ochab|first=Dr. Ewelina U.|date=2021-03-04|website=Forbes|access-date=2021-04-26|archive-date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426150654/https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2021/03/04/iraq-adopts-new-law-to-assist-survivors-of-the-daesh-genocide/|url-status=live}}

On 24 September 2019, President Salih had his first bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.{{Cite web |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-president-salih-iraq-bilateral-meeting-new-york-ny-2/ |title=White House |access-date=2 March 2021 |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120201746/https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-president-salih-iraq-bilateral-meeting-new-york-ny-2/ |url-status=live }}

On 26 December 2019, Salih submitted a letter of resignation after refusing to appoint Basra Governor Asaad Al Eidani as Prime Minister following the resignation of Adil Abdul-Mahdi, amid ongoing protests across the country. Salih stated that Al Eidani would not be approved by the demonstrators.{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5755588/iraq-president-resignation/|title=Iraqi President Barham Saleh Submits Resignation to Parliament Amid Deadly Protests: Report|magazine=Time|language=en|access-date=2019-12-26|archive-date=26 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226190218/https://time.com/5755588/iraq-president-resignation/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iraq-protests-idUKKBN1YU0Q3|title=Iraqi president threatens to quit in defiance of Iran's allies in parliament|date=2019-12-26|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-12-26|language=en|archive-date=30 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130141803/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iraq-protests-idUKKBN1YU0Q3|url-status=dead}}

On 2 April 2002, Barham Salih was exposed to an assassination attempt by Ansar al-Islam group,{{Cite web |last=Documentation |first=Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and |date=2006-03-08 |title=a-4812 (ACC-IRQ-4812) |url=https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/1037043.html |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=www.ecoi.net |language=en}} Salih survived the assassination attempt.{{Cite news |date=2002-04-03 |title=Iraqi Kurdish leader evades assassins |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1909073.stm |access-date=2022-05-12}}

On 19 September 2018, the announcement that Barham Salih will be the PUK's candidate for the post of Iraqi president was greeted with anger by many on social media while others expressed hope that his international reputation and experience would bring a steady hand to tumultuous Baghdad.

Some took to the social media platform to call Salih out for perceived opportunism, noting he had just recently been campaigning against PUK and KDP corruption.{{cite web |last1=By Rudaw |title=Twittersphere reacts with anger, hope, humour to Barham Salih news |url=http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/190920185 |website=Rudaw |access-date=6 October 2018 |archive-date=6 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006114449/http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/190920185 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author1=John J. Catherine |title=Barham Salih holds talks to rejoin PUK before Kurdistan election |url=http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/0483306e-e651-4a0a-9385-4e1a034c3c71 |website=Kurdistan24 |language=en |access-date=6 October 2018 |archive-date=6 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006114524/http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/0483306e-e651-4a0a-9385-4e1a034c3c71 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Corporation |first1=Nalia |title=CDJ to continue political, civil work after departure of Barham Salih |url=http://www.nrttv.com/En/News.aspx?id=5292&MapID=1 |website=www.nrttv.com |access-date=6 October 2018 |archive-date=6 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006075248/http://www.nrttv.com/En/News.aspx?id=5292&MapID=1 |url-status=live }}

{{Reflist}}

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• [http://barhamsalih.net/ Dr. Barham Salih's official website]
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title=Prime Minister of PUK-controlled Kurdistan|

before=Kosrat Rasul Ali|

years=January 2001 – July 2004|

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title=Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation|

before=Mahdi al-Hafez|

years=May 2005 – May 2006|

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title=Deputy Prime Minister for National Security|

before=Ahmed Chalabi
Ruz Nuri Shawis
Abid Mutlak al-Jubouri|

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title=Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan|

before=Nechervan Idris Barzani|

years=August 2009– January 2012|

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title=President of Iraq|

before=Fuad Masum|

years=2018–2022|

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{{Prime Ministers of Kurdistan Region}}

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Category:1960 births

Category:People from Sulaymaniyah

Category:Iraqi Kurdish people

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of Cardiff University

Category:Members of the Council of Representatives of Iraq

Category:Deputy prime ministers of Iraq

Category:Kurdish Muslims

Category:Patriotic Union of Kurdistan politicians

Category:Presidents of Iraq

Category:Prime ministers of Kurdistan Region

Category:Iraqi Kurdistani politicians