It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Sheikh Sami al-Majun.

Sheikh Sami was a highly respected tribal leader from Samawah in the south of Iraq. After 2003 Sheikh Sami returned to Iraq and as member of the first parliamentary assembly participated in the drafting of the new constitution and became the country’s first Minister for Labour and Social Affairs. After leaving government he remained active in politics gathering politicians from all parties across the political divide.

A close friend of Baroness Nicholson who had supported him and his family in their struggle against Sadam Hussein in the 1990s Sheikh Sami was a strong and determined supporter of IBBC from the organisation’s inception onwards. He only recently attended IBBC events in London and regularly hosted IBBC delegations in his home in Baghdad.

Sheikh Sami Azara Al-Majun died on Sunday 17^th of September at the age of 91. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his daughter Zainab in particular, who lovingly cared for him during his last years living in London.

We will remember Sheikh Sami as a proud and upright man who was not afraid to speak truth to power and deeply cared for his people, country, and British Iraqi relations. He will be greatly missed.