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Abdel Rahman Al-BazzazIraqi statesman and politician, Prime Minister of Iraq (1965-1966), acting President of Iraq (1966).
Date of Birth: 20.02.1913
Country:  Iran |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Political Involvement
- Exile and Diplomacy
- Prime Ministership and Presidency
- Imprisonment and Death
Early Life and Education
Born on February 20, 1913, in the village of Ans province in Er-Ramadi, Iraq, Abdel Rahman al-Bazzaz was the son of a rural schoolteacher. He graduated from Baghdad Law College in 1935 and became an assistant professor at the college in 1940. Al-Bazzaz earned a doctorate in law from the University of Baghdad and London's King's College. He authored numerous works on Arab nationalism, law, Islamic history, and Iraqi history.
Political Involvement
In 1941, al-Bazzaz was imprisoned for three years for participating in anti-British student protests in support of the pro-German military coup led by Rashid Ali al-Gaylani. After his release in 1944, he practiced law while serving as a judge on Baghdad's supreme court. In 1953, he became dean of Baghdad Law College. He soon transitioned to diplomacy, serving as Iraq's representative in Cyprus from 1954 to 1955. Upon his return to Baghdad, he resumed his position as dean of Baghdad Law College.
Following the overthrow of the monarchy in July 1958, al-Bazzaz became dean of the law and trade and economics faculties at the University of Baghdad. He also joined Iraq's Court of Cassation.
Exile and Diplomacy
Al-Bazzaz emigrated to the United Arab Republic in 1959, where he taught at Cairo University. In 1962, he became director of the Higher Arab Institute. From March 1963, he served as Iraq's ambassador to Egypt and then to the United Kingdom in August 1963. He also served as OPEC's chairman from 1964 to 1965.
Prime Ministership and Presidency
On September 6, 1965, al-Bazzaz became deputy prime minister and foreign minister, acting as interim oil minister in the government of Air Force commander General Aref Abdul Razzaq. After the new prime minister's failed military coup attempt on September 15, 1965, Iraqi President Marshal Abdul Salam Aref appointed al-Bazzaz to form a new cabinet. The new government took office on September 21, 1965. The National Council of the Revolution Command was dissolved, and legislative functions were transferred to the Council of Ministers. As prime minister, al-Bazzaz advocated a more forceful approach to the Kurdish issue while continuing negotiations for its settlement. He served as acting president of Iraq from April 13-16, 1966, following Aref's death. On June 30, 1966, his government successfully suppressed another coup attempt by General Abdul Razzaq. Al-Bazzaz visited the Soviet Union from July 27 to August 2, 1966, strengthening economic and military cooperation between the two nations.
Imprisonment and Death
After the Ba'athist coup in 1968, al-Bazzaz was arrested. In 1969, he was convicted alongside former defense minister Abdel Aziz al-Ukayli and sentenced to a lengthy prison term. Due to health issues, he was placed under house arrest in 1970 and died shortly thereafter.
