Abdul Aziz al-Hakim
Encyclopedia
Sayyed Abdul Aziz al-Hakim (1953 - August 26, 2009) was an Iraq
i theologian and politician and the leader of Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, a party that enjoys approximately 5% support in the Iraqi Council of Representatives.
He was a member of the United States
-appointed Iraqi Governing Council
and served as its president in December 2003. Brother of the Shia leader Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim
, he replaced him as leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq
when Mohammed Baqir was assassinated
in August 2003 in Najaf
.
and then received his theological education through the religious school there, known as the Hawza
. He was married to the daughter of Mohammed Hadi al-Sadr and he was the father of two girls and two boys. His son Muhsin Abdul Aziz al-Hakim was a political adviser for him while his other son Ammar al-Hakim
is the Secretary General of Al-Mihrab Martyr Foundation. Seven of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim brothers have been killed, six of them on the orders of Saddam Hussein
.
He played a leading role in the Safar Intifada in 1977 and was imprisoned in 1972, 1977 and 1979. He went into exile in Iran
in 1980, where he was a founding member in 1982 of SIIC and headed their military wing, the Badr Organization
. He was the top candidate listed for the United Iraqi Coalition
during the first Iraqi legislative election of January 2005
but did not seek a government post because the Alliance had decided not to include theologians in the government.
On December 4, 2006, al-Hakim met with George W. Bush
whereat he made a commitment to help end violence,
Al-Hakim also gave his assessment of the situation in Iraq:
On December 5, 2006, on behalf of The Catholic University of America
and American University
's Center for Global Peace, he spoke at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
. The title of his speech was "Freedom and Tolerance in Shi'a Islam and the Future of Iraq". Notable guests at this event included Archbishop
Donald Wuerl
of Washington, D.C.
and Rabbi Professor Ephraim Isaac from the Institute of Semitic Studies in Princeton, New Jersey
.
. On May 20, 2007, Mr. Hakim left the U.S. for Iran
, in order to receive chemotherapy
treatment. On August 26, 2009 Abdel Aziz al-Hakim died in a Tehran hospital after a long battle with lung cancer. He was buried in Najaf on August 29, on the same day of his brother, who was killed exactly six years earlier.
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Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i theologian and politician and the leader of Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, a party that enjoys approximately 5% support in the Iraqi Council of Representatives.
He was a member of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-appointed Iraqi Governing Council
Iraqi Governing Council
The Iraqi Governing Council was the provisional government of Iraq from July 13, 2003 to June 1, 2004. It was established by and served under the United States-led Coalition Provisional Authority...
and served as its president in December 2003. Brother of the Shia leader Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim
Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim
Ayatollah Sayed Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim , also known as Shaheed al-Mehraab was one of the foremost Twelver Shi'a Muslim leaders in Iraq until his assassination in a bombing in Najaf...
, he replaced him as leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq
Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq
The Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq is an Iraqi political party. Its political support comes from the country's Shi'a Muslim community. Prior to his assassination in August 2003, SCIRI was led by Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim; afterwards it was led by the ayatollah's brother, Abdul Aziz...
when Mohammed Baqir was assassinated
Imam Ali Mosque bombing
The Imam Ali Mosque bombing was the detonation of two car bombs outside of the Shia Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf on August 29, 2003. The attack killed 83 people crowded around the mosque for Friday prayers, including Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, spiritual leader of the Supreme Council of the...
in August 2003 in Najaf
Najaf
Najaf is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2008 is 560,000 people. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate...
.
Early life
He was born in 1953, the son of Grand Ayatollah Muhsin Al-Hakim. Raised in NajafNajaf
Najaf is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2008 is 560,000 people. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate...
and then received his theological education through the religious school there, known as the Hawza
Hawza
Hawza or ḥawza ʻilmiyya is a seminary of traditional Islamic school of higher learning. It is a term used mostly by the Shi'a Muslims communities to refer to a traditional Shi'a centre where clerics are trained...
. He was married to the daughter of Mohammed Hadi al-Sadr and he was the father of two girls and two boys. His son Muhsin Abdul Aziz al-Hakim was a political adviser for him while his other son Ammar al-Hakim
Ammar al-Hakim
Sayyed Ammar al-Hakim is an Iraqi politician who leads the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, which was the largest party in Iraq's Council of Representatives from the 2003 Invasion of Iraq until the 2010 Iraqi elections....
is the Secretary General of Al-Mihrab Martyr Foundation. Seven of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim brothers have been killed, six of them on the orders of Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
.
He played a leading role in the Safar Intifada in 1977 and was imprisoned in 1972, 1977 and 1979. He went into exile in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
in 1980, where he was a founding member in 1982 of SIIC and headed their military wing, the Badr Organization
Badr Organization
The Badr Organization previously known as the Badr Brigades or Badr Corps is an Iraqi political party headed by Hadi al-Amiri...
. He was the top candidate listed for the United Iraqi Coalition
United Iraqi Alliance
The National Iraqi Alliance , also known as the Watani List, is an Iraqi electoral coalition that contested the Iraqi legislative election, 2010. The Alliance is mainly composed of Shi'a Islamist parties...
during the first Iraqi legislative election of January 2005
Iraqi legislative election, January 2005
Elections for the National Assembly of Iraq were held on January 30, 2005 in Iraq. The 275-member National Assembly was a parliament created under the Transitional Law during the Occupation of Iraq...
but did not seek a government post because the Alliance had decided not to include theologians in the government.
U.S. visits
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
whereat he made a commitment to help end violence,
Al-Hakim also gave his assessment of the situation in Iraq:
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
and American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
's Center for Global Peace, he spoke at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center was established to house a Roman Catholic museum and think tank in Washington, D.C. The concept for the center began at a meeting between Pope John Paul II and then-Bishop Adam Maida in 1988. The building is set on 12 acres adjacent to The Catholic University...
. The title of his speech was "Freedom and Tolerance in Shi'a Islam and the Future of Iraq". Notable guests at this event included Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Donald Wuerl
Donald Wuerl
Donald William Wuerl is an American cardinal of the Catholic Church. He is the sixth and current Archbishop of Washington, serving since 2006. He previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle and Bishop of Pittsburgh...
of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and Rabbi Professor Ephraim Isaac from the Institute of Semitic Studies in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
.
Illness and death
On May 16, 2007 he flew to Houston for medical treatment. Reportedly he had lung cancerLung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
. On May 20, 2007, Mr. Hakim left the U.S. for Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, in order to receive chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
treatment. On August 26, 2009 Abdel Aziz al-Hakim died in a Tehran hospital after a long battle with lung cancer. He was buried in Najaf on August 29, on the same day of his brother, who was killed exactly six years earlier.
External links
- Background
- Iraqis must enhance internal ties
- Abdul Aziz al-Hakim - Daily Telegraph obituary
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