Iraq’s former PM Abadi misses UK event after ‘visa delay’
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq’s former prime minister Haider al-Abadi missed a Chatham House event in London on Wednesday night due to a “visa delay”.
Abadi was scheduled to be in London on Wednesday to participate in a panel discussion on “Iraq’s political landscape”.
However, the former PM was unable to enter the UK owing to a “visa delay”.
Lina Khatib, head of Middle East and North Africa Programmed in Chatham House who chaired Wednesday’s panel, told attendees Abadi would not be joining the event owing to issues obtaining a UK visa.
Abadi lived in Britain for many years during the rule of Saddam Hussein, and completed his PhD at Manchester University. He renounced his British citizenship in 2014 in order to assume office in Baghdad.
He lost the support of parliamentary allies for his poor handling of that’s summer’s Basra protests and among Kurds for his attack on the Peshmerga in Kirkuk and the disputed territories in October 2017.
Abadi declared the Islamic State group (ISIS) territorially defeated in Iraq in December 2017. However, ISIS remnants have since made gains in the security vacuums left by his offensive in the disputed territories.
Wednesday’s event in London focused on recent protests in Iraq and the ongoing ISIS threat.
Participants included Muqtada al-Sadr’s political representative Dhiaa al-Asadi, senior advisor to the Iraqi prime minister Laith Kubba, advisor to the president of the Kurdistan Region Karim Sinjari.
Abadi was scheduled to be in London on Wednesday to participate in a panel discussion on “Iraq’s political landscape”.
However, the former PM was unable to enter the UK owing to a “visa delay”.
Lina Khatib, head of Middle East and North Africa Programmed in Chatham House who chaired Wednesday’s panel, told attendees Abadi would not be joining the event owing to issues obtaining a UK visa.
Abadi lived in Britain for many years during the rule of Saddam Hussein, and completed his PhD at Manchester University. He renounced his British citizenship in 2014 in order to assume office in Baghdad.
Chatham House hosts several prestigious events, conferences, workshops, seminars and briefings on politics and world affairs, welcoming speakers from across the world.
Abadi served as Iraqi PM until 2018, when his Nasr (Victory) alliance in the Iraqi parliament finished third in that year’s election – despite being the West’s preferred candidate.
Former Iraq PM Abadi couldn't speak today at Chatham House because "his visa was delayed"
— Hayder al-Khoei (@7ayder87) October 2, 2019
Abadi lived in the UK for decades and completed his PhD here. Imagine the hurdles normal Iraqi citizens face. Then people ask "why is Iran so influential in Iraq?" #CHEvents #IraqInitiative
He lost the support of parliamentary allies for his poor handling of that’s summer’s Basra protests and among Kurds for his attack on the Peshmerga in Kirkuk and the disputed territories in October 2017.
Abadi declared the Islamic State group (ISIS) territorially defeated in Iraq in December 2017. However, ISIS remnants have since made gains in the security vacuums left by his offensive in the disputed territories.
Wednesday’s event in London focused on recent protests in Iraq and the ongoing ISIS threat.
Participants included Muqtada al-Sadr’s political representative Dhiaa al-Asadi, senior advisor to the Iraqi prime minister Laith Kubba, advisor to the president of the Kurdistan Region Karim Sinjari.