Baba Ali Shaikh Mahmood
Baba Ali Shaikh Mahmood | |
|---|---|
 Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji with his son | |
| Born | 1912 |
| Died | 1996 (aged 84) |
| Nationality | Kurdish |
| Family | Barzanji |
Baba Ali Shaikh Mahmood (1912, in Sulaymaniyah – 1996, in London)[1] was an Iraqi politician and the son of Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji,[2][3] a prominent Kurdish leader who led several uprisings against the British Mandate of Iraq in the 1920s. Baba Ali was actively involved in Iraqi politics and held various governmental positions throughout his career. He served as Minister of Finance from 1946 to 1947, Minister of Transport from 1958 to 1959, and Minister of Agriculture from February to August 1963.[4][5]
Political career
[edit]Baba Ali Shaikh Mahmood was a significant figure in Iraqi politics, particularly in the mid-20th century. Born into the influential Barzanji family, his father, Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji, was a prominent Kurdish leader who led several uprisings against the British Mandate of Iraq in the 1920s. This background of resistance gave Baba Ali a unique position in both Kurdish and Iraqi political life, although his own career was focused more on governance and diplomacy than on military endeavors.[6]
His political journey began in the 1940s, a period of substantial change and instability in Iraq. Despite Iraq's formal independence from the British mandate in 1932, the nation was still struggling with frequent coups and shifts in leadership. In this turbulent environment, Baba Ali emerged as an active participant in the political arena. He first gained prominence as Minister of Finance from 1946 to 1947, a role that was pivotal in stabilizing the nation's finances and modernizing its economic structures in the aftermath of World War II.[5]
In the late 1950s, as Iraq transitioned from a monarchy to a republic following the 1953 coup, Baba Ali continued to play a crucial role in the government. He served as Minister of Transport from 1958 to 1959, a period marked by significant political and social upheaval. During this time, the nation was grappling with the challenges of a newly established republic under General Abdul Karim Qasim, and Baba Ali was recognized for his efforts to balance the interests of the Kurdish population with those of the central government.
Later, in 1963, Baba Ali was appointed Minister of Agriculture. In this capacity, he was involved in agricultural reforms that were part of a broader initiative to modernize Iraq's economy. His tenure coincided with the rise of the Ba'ath Party, which had come to power after a coup against Qasim. As the political climate grew increasingly difficult, many seasoned politicians, including Baba Ali, found themselves at odds with the new government dynamics.[4]
Throughout his career, Baba Ali's deep ties to the Barzanji family and its legacy of fighting for Kurdish rights meant that he often found himself acting as a mediator between the central Iraqi government and the Kurdish community. However, as political repression intensified in the 1960s and 1970s—especially with the consolidation of power under the Ba'ath'regime—Baba Ali, like many of his contemporaries, eventually left Iraq. He spent his final years in exile in London, where he continued to be remembered for his efforts to navigate the complex and often tumultuous political landscape of his homeland.
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Sahar Hamouda, Colin Clement: Victoria College - A history revealed, Seiten 78ff und 246. American Univ. in Cairo Press, Cairo/New York 2002
- ^ Erhard Franz: Kurden und Kurdentum - Zeitgeschichte eines Volkes und seiner Nationalbewegungen, Pages 126, 164f, 171f. Mitteilungen 30, Deutsches Orient-Institut Hamburg 1986
- ^ * Robin Leonard Bidwell: British documents on foreign affairs - reports and papers from the Foreign Office confidential print, Band 9 (From the First to the Second World War. Series B, Turkey, Iran, and the Middle East, 1918-1939), Seite 305. University Publications of America, Michigan 1985 bzw.
- Malcolm Yapp: British documents on foreign affairs - reports and papers from the Foreign Office confidential print, Band ? (From 1946 through 1950. Near and Middle-East 1947. Eastern Affairs, January 1947-December 1947), Page 49 and 56. University Publications of America, Michigan 2001
- ^ a b Mideast Mirror, Band 15, Page 6. Arab News Agency, Beirut 1963
- ^ a b Edmund A. Ghareeb, Beth Dougherty: Historical Dictionary of Iraq, Page 349 and 358. The Scarecrow Press, Lanham/Oxford 2004
- ^ Elizabeth Warnock Fernea: Remembering Childhood in the Middle East - Memoirs from a Century of Change, Page 42. University of Texas Press, Austin 2010