Sharif Ali bin al-Hussein

Sharif Ali Bin al-Hussein (Arabic: الشريف علي بن الحسين) was born in 1956, in Baghdad, Iraq, as a member of the Hashemite House. He is currently a pretender to the Iraqi throne and the leader of the Iraqi Constitutional Monarchy political party. Sharif Ali bin al-Hussein claims to be the legitimate heir to the position of King of Iraq, based on his relationship to the last monarch, the late King Faisal II.

Early life

After the loss of Mecca, Sharif Ali's parents settled in Iraq where Badia's sister was queen consort. He was born in Iraq and his maternal first cousin was Faisal II of Iraq, the last king of Iraq.

On July 14, 1958, when Colonel Abdul Karim Qassim took control of the Kingdom of Iraq by a "coup d'état", the royal family was ordered to leave the palace in Baghdad: King Faisal II; Crown Prince 'Abd al-Ilah; Princess Hiyam, Abdul Ilah's wife; Princess Nafeesa, Abdul Ilah’s mother, Princess Abadiya, the king’s aunt; and several servants. When all of them arrived in the courtyard they were told to turn towards the palace wall, and were all shot down by Captain Abdus Sattar As Sab’ a member of the coup led by Colonel Abdul Karim Qassim. Nuri as-Said the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Iraq was killed by supporters of Colonel Abdul Karim Qassim on July 15, 1958.

Ali bin al-Hussein's mother Princess Badia, the daughter of King Ali and aunt of King Faisal II, her husband Sharif al-Hussein bin Ali, and their three children spent a month in the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Baghdad. The coup leaders insisted that they leave Iraq and travel to Egypt on ordinary passports. For a while they lived in Lebanon, finally residing in London where Ali bin al-Hussein built up a successful career in investment banking.

Education

He earned his high school diploma from Broummana High School in Lebanon and an MA in economics from a university in the United Kingdom.

Political movement

Ali bin Al-Hussein remained an opponent of the rule of Saddam Hussein. In 1991, he quit his job managing investment funds and became a member of the Iraqi National Congress which had the purpose of fomenting the overthrow of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

On October 28 2003, Sharif Ali Bin al-Hussein representing the Iraqi National Conference Bloc met Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa in Damascus. They agreed on points of views that were similar including ending the occupation and forming the Iraqi government in such a way that both satisfied the Iraqi people's aspirations and maintained Iraqi unity. [http://www.iraqcmm.org/cmm/AN20031028.htm]

He has succeeded in establishing himself as claimant in the international press, however his party obtained only 0.16% of the popular vote in the 2005 election. He has stated that the reason for the low turnout for his party was due to voter intimidation and lack of information. He claims his party was not able to get information out to the wider population including rural areas.

Awards

* He was awarded the Royal Order of the Drum by Kigeli V, the former king of Rwanda for his goal of establishing a way out of Iraq’s political crisis and of ending the tragic ordeal of a people who lived under terror and tyranny. [http://www.king-kigeli.com/monarchy.html]

Quotes

* "It would have been the perfect transition from dictatorship to democracy," he said. "It would have been a way to unite the country around a figure whose history transcended sect and ethnicity." In 2003, Sharif Ali bin al-Hussein said, he pressed American officials to bring him in as soon as Saddam Hussein fell. [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/28/international/middleeast/28king.html?ex=1163394000&en=bb5e4b922b95af29&ei=5070]

* "I don't believe there is a military solution right now in Iraq for either side, for the Americans or the insurgents," he said. "We must start with negotiations." [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/28/international/middleeast/28king.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5070&en=bb5e4b922b95af29&ex=1163394000]

*"The majority of the people welcome the return of the monarchy because they believe that the monarchy is the system that will guarantee the reunification of Iraqi society"

*"We should not open chapters of revenge, but we should open a chapter of justice"

*"There is no risk of a breakup of Iraq. There is no risk of a civil war." [http://www.truthuncovered.com/UNCOVEREDtranscript.pdf]

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/not_in_website/syndication/monitoring/media_reports/2316745.stm Sharif Ali bin al-Hussein]
* [http://www.rferl.org/features/2003/12/01122003170647.asp Iraq: Cousin Of Last Iraqi King Says Monarchy Would Provide Stability]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/28/international/middleeast/28king.html The King Is Dead (Has Been for 46 Years) but Two Iraqis Hope: Long Live the King!]
* [http://www.iraqcmm.org/cmm/Sharif%20Ali%20urges%20quick%20transition.htm Iraqi royal urges quick transition]
* [http://www.iraqcmm.org/cmm/AN20031028.htm Al-Shara confers with Iraqi figures]
* [http://www.iraqcmm.org/cmm/AN2003102306.htm Al-Sharif Ali: Iraqi resistance prolongs occupation]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2978186.stm Mixed reception for Iraqi royal]
* [http://newsfromrussia.com/world/2003/05/07/46712_.html Grandson of the Last Iraqi King Plans to Return to Baghdad]
* [http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20021223&s=zengerle122302 CAN THE IRAQI EXILES REMAKE IRAQ? At Home Abroad]