Related: How Iraq's first free leaders bore a London legacy
Civil war could break out in Iraq unless prison reforms and national unity are enforced, the country's first prime minister since the 2003 invasion, Ayad Allawi, told The National.
Mr Allawi, a secular Shiite Arab and former vice president, warned of the possibility of rising sectarian tensions in the country and said a new wave of extremism was brewing in Iraq's overcrowded jails.
"Prisons are becoming a fertile ground for extremism. Before it was between Sunnis and Shiites, now it's involving tribes, involving regions, involving districts. The problem, if this continues, will be a civil war throughout the country," he told The National from his home in London. It is 20 years since he took office in Baghdad.
The mistake was, we did not apply equal citizenship to everybody and we had a quota-run government
Ayad Allawi,
former Iraqi Prime Minister
Mr Allawi also believes prisons are a "breeding place for ISIS" and the extremist group could be on the rise.
He said one solution would be to "clear prisons" from those who have been "accused of political reasons – there must be a pardon". There must be a push for national unity and reconciliation between Iraq's various ethnic and religious groups that are currently ruling the country, he added.
Mr Allawi spoke with disappointment about what Iraq has endured during the two decades since the US invasion that dismantled the government of Saddam Hussein, security forces and law enforcement.
Years of corruption and sectarianism have since dominated Iraqi politics, with Iraq’s ethno-sectarian Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish political parties infiltrating ministry and government posts.
The political divisions created widespread violence that led to a brutal civil war in 2006 and the formation of ISIS, which took over one third of Iraq in 2014.
Mr Allawi says that while these periods of tumult appear over, the same powerful, destructive tensions are rising again, behind the scenes.
"Now there is an unspoken civil war. I was against the occupation and war but the Americans wanted to divide the country into Sunnis and Shiites. Now we see Shiites versus Sunni, Shiites versus itself and Sunnis against each other," he said.
"The Sunnis until now cannot elect a man to become Parliament Speaker due to their differences."
Mr Allawi referred to a recent failure of Sunni political parties to elect a Speaker – a position usually reserved for the religious group in Iraq's so-called quota system, known as muhasasa tafi'iya.
The dispute over who will take the position is the latest in a series of failed attempts to replace Mohammed Al Halbousi, who was dismissed in November, with political bickering and divisions between key Sunni parties derailing every effort so far.
The row is a microcosm of years of political paralysis in the country where government formation – choosing key executive and cabinet positions – is often bogged down in factional rivalry.
Since the post-Saddam constitution in 2005, the prime minister is a member of the Shiite community, the speaker is a Sunni and the largely ceremonial role of president is held by a Kurd. However, the formula is strained as a result of sectarian agendas and has failed to prevent bloodshed.
"The mistake was, then we did not apply equal citizenship to everybody and we had a quota-run government," he said.
Iranian meddling
In 2004, Mr Allawi served on the Governing Council and was unanimously elected to become Iraq's first postwar prime minister on June 28.
The politician, who led the country for nine turbulent months, said the US and its allies have not protected Iraq's democracy, which caused endless internal conflict that has spilt into the region.
In the 2010 elections, Mr Allawi won more seats than Nouri Al Maliki – his fiercest competitor and close ally of Iran – but fell short of a majority. He accuses Iran of blocking his bid to become prime minister.
During government formation after the election, a number of candidates loyal to Mr Allawi were removed from office after Mr Al Maliki accused them of links to the banned Baath party.
Critics of Mr Al Maliki said the move was a brazen attempt to falsify charges and improve the position of his State of Law coalition. Talks broke down and Mr Al Maliki would go on to lead Iraq for another four years, a period which featured the rise of ISIS.
"Iran played a very negative role, to tell you the truth, very negative. We were supported by the Americans from the very beginning," said the politician, 80.
I said why? What's the problem? You should do it and you should call for early elections. Really, we need to rectify ourselves before we lose Iraq as a whole
Ayad Allawi
Tehran denies any interference in Iraqi politics and says it has only provided military assistance to Shiite paramilitary groups in their fight against ISIS, and framing bilateral ties as normal economic relations.
For years Iraq has been caught up in the region's sectarian divisions. But tensions were further exacerbated when Tehran leveraged its ties with Iraq's Shiite majority and emerged as the country's major foreign power broker.
"Because Iran played a role when America overthrew Saddam, Iran collaborated with the Americans and they started dictating things as events went by in Iraq, until 2010 when they came and said, 'Allawi, cannot form the government'."
His electoral campaign was based on an attempt to rise above sectarian differences and unite the country.
Mr Allawi says the prevailing political conditions at the time of the elections and the mechanics of the polls were not conducive to a fair voting system.
"If I'd known this was the case then I wouldn't have had the elections," he said.
"I would say that there shouldn't have been any group or list that appears as Shiite or Sunni or Kurdish. This is something that I should have done," he added.
Push for national unity
Mr Allawi led a coalition government that he says was committed to a secular future for Iraq.
He pressed this issue soon after the invasion, warning there should be no distinction between the Shiites and the Sunnis, Christians and Muslims, women and men. "This is very important. If we can't move around these, then this government will fail,” Mr Allawi said.
He recently informed senior politicians in Baghdad from the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani of his concerns but said they responded by stating they are unable to do anything about the situation.
“I said why? What's the problem? You should do it, and you should call for early elections. Really, we need to rectify ourselves before we lose Iraq as a whole,” he said.
Mr Allawi blames the US for creating a divide in the country between Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds, and igniting sectarian tensions. "These kind of problems occurred in Iraq then and multiplied gradually with time to become what you know as Iraq right now."
Militias rise again
An attack on a KFC restaurant in Baghdad this month has raised questions over whether the relative calm and stability in Iraq during the years followed the defeat of ISIS can be sustained, Mr Allawi said. A small incident of vandalism on the surface, the attack highlights the impunity of Iran-backed militants now on the government payroll, he added.
The attack was the third in just over a week and was reported by a senior official in the Iran-backed Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah, which released a statement calling on Iraqis to "boycott and expel" US brands. They claim the move is in response to Israel's war in the Gaza Strip.
"If this continues, then we will see a direct attack on the Americans who are stationed in Iraq, this is a big possibility," he said.
Born in 1944, a neurologist by training, the former minister returned to Iraq after Saddam's fall. His wife and three children lived for a while in Jordan and now divide their time between London and the UAE.
He has been politically active since 1968, founding the Iraqi National Accord in opposition to Saddam’s regime, and has survived several assassination attempts, one of which left him in hospital for nearly two years.
He warned Iraq could be divided if differences between political parties continue.
"We need the rule of law, national unity, we need to implement the concept of citizenships. You know, Iraqis are willing to drown in the sea instead of being a citizen of the country that's failing to provide adequate public services," he said.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
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Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Paris Can Wait
Dir: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard
Two stars
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Under 19 Cricket World Cup, Asia Qualifier
Fixtures
Friday, April 12, Malaysia v UAE
Saturday, April 13, UAE v Nepal
Monday, April 15, UAE v Kuwait
Tuesday, April 16, UAE v Singapore
Thursday, April 18, UAE v Oman
UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Aaron Benjamin, Akasha Mohammed, Alishan Sharafu, Anand Kumar, Ansh Tandon, Ashwanth Valthapa, Karthik Meiyappan, Mohammed Faraazuddin, Rishab Mukherjee, Niel Lobo, Osama Hassan, Vritya Aravind, Wasi Shah
Fight card
Preliminaries:
Nouredine Samir (UAE) v Sheroz Kholmirzav (UZB); Lucas Porst (SWE) v Ellis Barboza (GBR); Mouhmad Amine Alharar (MAR) v Mohammed Mardi (UAE); Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) v Spyro Besiri (GRE); Aslamjan Ortikov (UZB) v Joshua Ridgwell (GBR)
Main card:
Carlos Prates (BRA) v Dmitry Valent (BLR); Bobirjon Tagiev (UZB) v Valentin Thibaut (FRA); Arthur Meyer (FRA) v Hicham Moujtahid (BEL); Ines Es Salehy (BEL) v Myriame Djedidi (FRA); Craig Coakley (IRE) v Deniz Demirkapu (TUR); Artem Avanesov (ARM) v Badreddine Attif (MAR); Abdulvosid Buranov (RUS) v Akram Hamidi (FRA)
Title card:
Intercontinental Lightweight: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) v Angel Marquez (ESP)
Intercontinental Middleweight: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) v Francesco Iadanza (ITA)
Asian Featherweight: Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) v Phillip Delarmino (PHI)
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
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Her most famous song
Aghadan Alqak (Would I Ever Find You Again)?
Would I ever find you again
You, the heaven of my love, my yearning and madness;
You, the kiss to my soul, my cheer and
sadness?
Would your lights ever break the night of my eyes again?
Would I ever find you again?
This world is volume and you're the notion,
This world is night and you're the lifetime,
This world is eyes and you're the vision,
This world is sky and you're the moon time,
Have mercy on the heart that belongs to you.
Lyrics: Al Hadi Adam; Composer: Mohammed Abdel Wahab
UAE%20SQUAD
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Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
PSG's line up
GK: Alphonse Areola (youth academy)
Defence - RB: Dani Alves (free transfer); CB: Marquinhos (€31.4 million); CB: Thiago Silva (€42m); LB: Layvin Kurzawa (€23m)
Midfield - Angel di Maria (€47m); Adrien Rabiot (youth academy); Marco Verratti (€12m)
Forwards - Neymar (€222m); Edinson Cavani (€63m); Kylian Mbappe (initial: loan; to buy: €180m)
Total cost: €440.4m (€620.4m if Mbappe makes permanent move)
Company%20profile
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
