BAGHDAD,— A legislative proposal under review in Iraq’s Parliament seeks to amend the nationality law to bar dual citizens from holding top positions in government and security institutions, according to documents submitted to Parliament, Baghdad Today reported.
The draft amendment, submitted by former MP Amer Abdul Jabbar Ismail and backed by multiple lawmakers, calls for changes to Article 9 of Law No. 26 of 2006. The goal is to prevent individuals with foreign nationalities from serving in key roles unless they renounce their second citizenship.
Under the suggested amendment, Iraqis with an additional nationality — either acquired or by birth — would be ineligible to occupy sovereign or high-level security roles unless they formally relinquish their foreign citizenship. The restriction would apply to key positions including:
- President of the Republic and Vice Presidents
- Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers
- Speaker of Parliament and Deputies
- Ministers and equivalent ranks
- Judges and members of the Public Prosecution
- Provincial Governors and Council Heads
- Directors of military, intelligence, and security agencies
- Officers and personnel in the Defense and Interior Ministries
- Directors General and higher-ranking civil servants
The draft legislation also specifies that if Iraqi citizenship is restored after renunciation for appointment purposes, the individual cannot resume the same official position again.
Supporters of the bill cite the Iraqi Constitution of 2005, particularly Article 18(4), which permits dual nationality but requires legal regulation. The proposed update criticizes the current legal language for being too broad, arguing that it has allowed individuals with dual citizenship to assume influential roles without proper legal safeguards.
The amendment aims to address several concerns raised by lawmakers:
- Ensuring exclusive allegiance to the Iraqi state
- Avoiding legal conflicts for officials subject to foreign jurisdictions
- Preventing exploitation of legal gaps by individuals secretly maintaining dual status
- Creating a level playing field for citizens without dual nationality
Proponents argue that tighter restrictions are essential to reinforce national sovereignty and prevent conflicts of interest at the highest levels of government.
The draft measure remains under discussion in the Iraqi Council of Representatives. No timeline has been set for a vote on the amendment.
Top Iraqi and Kurdish Politicians with Dual Citizenship
Dual citizenship among Iraq’s senior political figures has been a subject of public discussion and official acknowledgment. In 2016, then-Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari revealed that nearly half of Iraq’s ambassadors—32 out of 66—held dual nationality.
Barham Salih, who served as President of Iraq from October 2, 2018, formerly held both Iraqi and British citizenship. Iraqi law requires senior officials in sovereign or security roles to renounce any foreign nationality, and Salih complied with this regulation upon taking office.
Jalal Talabani, the late former Iraqi President, born in the village of Kelkan in Iraqi Kurdistan, was an Iraqi citizen by birth. Some sources have indicated that he also held British citizenship, though this is less clearly documented.
Abdul Latif Rashid, the current Iraqi President, holds Iraqi citizenship and, according to credible sources, also possesses British nationality.
Masrour Barzani, the caretaker Prime Minister in Iraqi Kurdistan region, holds dual citizenship—both Iraqi and U.S.
Qubad Talabani, a member of the PUK party’s Political Bureau and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, was born in Damascus and raised in the United Kingdom. Public profiles confirm he holds both Iraqi and British citizenship.
Other prominent Iraqi officials with known dual citizenship include:
Hoshyar Zebari: Former Foreign Minister (2003–2014), Deputy Prime Minister, and Finance Minister, holds both Iraqi and British nationality.
Haider al-Abadi: Prime Minister from 2014 to 2018, renounced his British citizenship after assuming office in September 2014, in accordance with Iraq’s constitutional requirements.
Ibrahim al-Jaafari: Foreign Minister from 2005 to 2014, reportedly holds British citizenship.
Saleem al-Jibouri: Speaker of Parliament, reportedly holds Qatari citizenship.
Najah al-Shammari: Defense Minister from 2019 to 2020, holds Swedish citizenship alongside Iraqi.
Ayad Allawi: Interim Prime Minister (2004–2005), obtained British citizenship during the 1980s while residing in the UK before returning to Iraq.
Najmiddin (Najmadin) Karim: Governor of Kirkuk (2011–2017), held Iraqi and U.S. citizenship, studied and lived in the United States until his death in 2020.
Idris Nechirvan Barzani: Regarding Kurdish political figures, as of mid-2025, no official confirmation exists about Idris Nechirvan Barzani, eldest son of Nechirvan Barzani (President of the Kurdistan Region), holding dual nationality. However, an informed source told iKurd News that he holds citizenship of Saint Kitts and Nevis via an investment program. iKurd News could not independently verify this information.
Massoud Barzani, former President of Iraqi Kurdistan and head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), is a tribal leader with some family members reportedly acquiring Dominican citizenship through investment schemes. There is no verified evidence that he personally holds dual nationality.
(With files from Baghdad Today | wikipedia | britannica | Agencies )
Copyright © 2025 iKurd.net. All rights reserved
Related posts:
The Resurrection (Ba’ath) Party – Before the Iran-Iraq War
Iraqi Kurdistan – “Sold Out!” – Part II
Iraq: Revenge and Corruption
Saddam Hussein’s Enemies: Paving the Road to the Invasion of Iraq
Iraq – The Cynical Swindle
Saddam Hussein was a Friend to the West
Business with ISIS – Updated
Iraqi Kurdistan: The Emperors’ New Clothes
The Suffocation of Iraq Kurdistan
The Truth About The Saddam Hussein Affair
