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Maysoon Al-Damluji
Maysoon Al-Damluji is an Iraqi politician and women's rights campaigner. She was Iraq's Deputy Minister of Culture
from June 2004 until March 2006 and is currently a member of the Council of Representatives for the secular Iraqi
National List, or "Iraqiya", headed by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. Al-Damluji is the president of the Iraqi
Independent Women's Group (IIWG). In 2010 Al-Damluji became the official spokesman for Iraqiya.
Maysoon graduated from the Architectural Association in London in 1985 and started a successful practice in West
London.
Always intimately connected with her homeland, Maysoon was an important fixture in London's Iraqi community,
founding and promoting organizations in support of Iraqi arts, including the Iraqi Artists Association, the Kufa Gallery,
and the Studio of the Actor. After 1990 she became increasingly involved in opposition politics and campaigning
against the Baath regime.
[edit] Return to Iraq
Just weeks after the war to topple Saddam Hussein ended, Al-Damluji returned to Iraq, initially intending to stay for
only a short time. However, she soon became involved in promoting women's rights, founding the Iraqi Independent
Women's Group, of which she is president, and editing its magazine, "Noon".
Just six months after her return she was offered a post in the shadow Iraqi administration that was formed during
CPA rule as Deputy Minister of Culture. Maysoon held on to this post in the Iraqi government that followed the hand
over of sovereignty to Prime Minister Iyad Allawi in 2004, as well as the government of Ibrahim al-Jaafari, who took
power after the elections of January 2005.
from June 2004 until March 2006 and is currently a member of the Council of Representatives for the secular Iraqi
National List, or "Iraqiya", headed by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. Al-Damluji is the president of the Iraqi
Independent Women's Group (IIWG). In 2010 Al-Damluji became the official spokesman for Iraqiya.
Maysoon graduated from the Architectural Association in London in 1985 and started a successful practice in West
London.
Always intimately connected with her homeland, Maysoon was an important fixture in London's Iraqi community,
founding and promoting organizations in support of Iraqi arts, including the Iraqi Artists Association, the Kufa Gallery,
and the Studio of the Actor. After 1990 she became increasingly involved in opposition politics and campaigning
against the Baath regime.
[edit] Return to Iraq
Just weeks after the war to topple Saddam Hussein ended, Al-Damluji returned to Iraq, initially intending to stay for
only a short time. However, she soon became involved in promoting women's rights, founding the Iraqi Independent
Women's Group, of which she is president, and editing its magazine, "Noon".
Just six months after her return she was offered a post in the shadow Iraqi administration that was formed during
CPA rule as Deputy Minister of Culture. Maysoon held on to this post in the Iraqi government that followed the hand
over of sovereignty to Prime Minister Iyad Allawi in 2004, as well as the government of Ibrahim al-Jaafari, who took
power after the elections of January 2005.