Raïd Fahmi, the Eternal Opponent to Saddam Hussein

Forced into exile under Saddam Hussein’s regime for being a communist, Raïd Fahmi arrived in France in 1979. Professor of economy for many years in Bobigny, he’s a member of the Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party (PCI) which he represented in our country. Although opposed to the military intervention in Iraq, Fahmi nevertheless subscribed to the reunification process which is underway in Iraq, despite the presence of occupying forces.
Today, he is Minister of Science and Technology in the government led by Nouri Al Maliki. Recently, he accompanied Iraqi president Jalal Talabani to France for an official visit. “We felt a need to improve Franco-Iraqi relations, and to explore the possibilities of extending and materializing our cooperation in economic, cultural and social domains. This will make France’s (and the European Union’s) presence felt in Iraq, which could help contribute to stability in our country”, he said.
For this occasion, the Iraqi delegation made a point of meeting with the French Communist Party (PCF). Jalal Talabani warmly thanked the PCF for its solidarity throughout the years of resistance to the dictatorship. Marie-George Buffet, national PCF secretary, accompanied by Jacques Fath, in charge of international issues, reaffirmed the determination of French communists to sustain the reconstruction process for a united, federal and democratic Iraq.
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