ABDUL RAHMAN, MUHAMMAD SAMI

(1932-2004)

"Sami," as he was popularly known, was an importantIraqiKurdish leader for many years until his assassination by anAnsar al-Sunnasuicide bombing inIrbilon 1 February 2004 that claimed a total of 98 lives, including Sami's eldest son. Such suicide attacks in the Kurdish region, however, were rare.

Sami was trained inGreat Britainas an engineer. Shortly afterMulla MustafaBarzani's defeat and exile in 1975, Sami joined Barzani's two sonsIdris BarzaniandMassoud Barzanito form the KDP/Provisional Command.Differences with the more traditional Idris led to the more progressive Sami leaving theKurdistan Democratic Party(KDP) (as it was now once again called) to form his ownKurdistan Popular Democratic Party(KPDP) in 1981. During the negotiations between the Iraqi government and theIraqi Kurdistan Frontin the spring and summer of 1991, Sami was one of the Kurdish representatives.

The KPDP did very poorly in the Iraqi Kurdish elections held in May 1992. After an attempt to reinvigorate his fortunes by combining with two other minor Kurdish parties as the Kurdistan Unity Party, Sami rejoined the KDP in 1993. He then played an important role in events and was the deputy prime minister in the KDPKurdistan Regional Governmentat the time of his death. In 2002, Sami Abdul Rahman suffered a minor stroke but soon after was able to return to work. His daughter, Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman (born 1965), is the KRG representative to Great Britain.