Abdul Karim Burjas al-Rawi (died 14 June 2022) was the first post-invasion Governor of Iraq's

Al Anbar Al Anbar Governorate ( ar, محافظة الأنبار; ''muḥāfaẓat al-’Anbār''), or Anbar Province, is the largest governorate in Iraq by area. Encompassing much of the country's western territory, it shares borders with Syria, Jordan, ...

province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''Roman province, provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire ...

, serving until July 2004, when he resigned.

Biography

Shortly after the invasion in 2003, Sunni tribal leaders and former Ba'athists, led by members of the Al-Kharbit (Khalifa) and Al-Gaoud (Nimr) families met to select Karim Burjas, a former General, as their unofficial leader and new Governor of Anbar Province. Burjas's position was later recognized by the coalition. Barjas resigned in July 2004 after his 3 sons were released in Fallujah by militants who had been holding them. The militants responsible then released a video on 5 August 2004 showing Barjas resigning and apologizing for opposing the Iraqi insurgency. In the video Barjas stated, "I am Abd al-Karim Barjas, governor of Al-Anbar. I declare before God and you my repentance of any action I did against the mujahedin, and I announce my resignation of my post." The US subsequently announced it would not make concessions to hostage takers. The militants responsible were believed to be members of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Following his resignation he retired from public service. After his resignation an interim governor filled the role of Governor of Anbar. Faisal Raikan al-Gut al-Nimrawi served as interim Governor until being forced out by tribal leaders in January 2005, and the Provincial Governing Council subsequently appointed

Raja Nawaf Farhan al-Mahalawi Raja Nawaf Farhan al-Mahalawi ( ar, رجا نواف فرحان المحلاوي) was the Governor of Iraq's Al Anbar province, serving from January 2005 until his death in May 2005. Early life and pre-war career Mahalawi was originally from Qaim ...

as the new Governor.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barjas, Abd al-Karim 20th-century births 2022 deaths 20th-century Iraqi politicians 21st-century Iraqi politicians Governors of Al Anbar Governorate Year of birth missing