Mustafa Al Kadhimi is the former Prime Minister of Iraq. Prime Minister Al Kadhimi came to office at a moment of significant national unrest and economic difficulty, pledging to implement a swathe of far-reaching reforms designed to enhance government accountability and transparency and restore public trust by ensuring that elections were fair and free. Early in his tenure, Prime Minister Moustafa Al Kazemi published his ‘White Paper’ for economic reform, which he cites as one of his biggest achievements during his time in office.
An early critic of Saddam Hussain’s regime, Baghdad-born Mustafa Al Kadhimi was forced to spend many years living in exile across Europe and Iran. He cites these formative years as fuelling his unerring passion for justice, democracy and human rights. During his time in office, Prime Minister Al Kadhimi oversaw the safe return of circa 17,000 looted cultural objects that had been taken overseas. The attached PDF takes a closer look at Iraq’s rich cultural history.
During his time in office, before and since, Mustafa Al Kadhimi has worked tirelessly to improve the situation of Iraqi citizens, becoming involved in numerous philanthropic pursuits. In April 2021, Prime Minister Al Kadhimi hosted a group of children orphaned by war, inviting them to his residence in Baghdad to join him for an iftar meal.
In Iraq, decades of war have led to thousands of children being orphaned, with the war against ISIS from 2014 to 2017 compounding an already significant issue. According to the Iraqi Children Foundation, one in five Iraqi children work to support themselves and their families, with 80% experiencing violence at home or in school. The attached infographic contains some interesting information about the Iraqi economy.
Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi said he regarded it as his duty to provide decent living conditions for young people and their families, asserting that orphaned children are ‘the responsibility of all of us’. To mark Arab Orphan Day and Iraqi Orphan Week, Prime Minister Al Kadhimi attended a ceremony at Al-Zawra Park where children participated in various events. Welcoming the children, the Prime Minister expressed his great happiness at meeting them, offering them congratulations on the occasion and the approaching holy month of Ramadan. Describing them as the ‘leaders of the future’, Mustafa Al Kadhimi called on the children to focus on their studies and excellence to overcome difficulties, be successful and serve their country.
