Sarwa Abdulwahid
Sarwa Abdul Wahid | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kurdistan Region, Iraq |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, former journalist, educator |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Known for | First female candidate for President of Iraq; Member of Iraqi Council of Representatives; Head of party relations for New Generation Movement |
Sarwa Abdul Wahid (in Kurdish: سرووە عەبدولواحید, in Arabic: سروة عبد الواحد) is an Iraqi political figure and ex-journalist originating from the Kurdistan Region. In 2018, she made history as the first female to declare her intention to run for Iraq’s presidency. She is the sibling of Shaswar Abdulwahid, the head of the New Generation Movement, and currently represents the party within Iraq’s parliamentary body.
Biography
Originating from Kurdistan, Sarwa Abdulwahid earned her degree in Arabic language studies from the University of Baghdad in 1993. Her professional background includes roles as a journalist and educator, notably hosting a nightly political show on Alhurra in 1996. Throughout her journalism tenure, she encountered intimidation from the Kurdistan Regional Government.
By 1998, she became part of the Iraqi Council of Ministers, where she concentrated on advancing women’s rights.
Iraqi Council of Representatives
Abdulwahid secured a seat in the Iraqi Council of Representatives in 2014, representing Erbil Governorate under the banner of the Movement for Change. Her term lasted until 2018.
She publicly opposed the 2017 independence referendum held by the Kurdistan Region, a position that diverged sharply from the overwhelming voter approval exceeding 90%.
Following her dissenting stance against party leadership, Abdulwahid was expelled from the Movement for Change.
Presidency candidate
In September 2018, she broke new ground by declaring her independent bid for Iraq’s presidency, becoming the nation’s first female contender for this role. By October, she disclosed experiencing pressure to withdraw her candidacy alongside receiving threats online.
New Generation Movement
The New Generation Movement was established in 2017 by her brother, media entrepreneur Shaswar Abdulwahid, which she subsequently joined. Upon her appointment as head of party relations by Shaswar, allegations of nepotism surfaced among critics.
During the 2021 Iraqi parliamentary elections, Sarwa Abdulwahid was elected as a Member of Parliament representing the New Generation Movement, tallying 28,987 votes—the highest count among female candidates. After assuming office, she highlighted the importance of reformist parties defending civil liberties and enacting legislation aimed at militias implicated in criminal activities.
In 2024, Sarwa submitted a petition to Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court, demanding the dissolution of the Kurdistan Regional Government should elections fail to occur within three months; however, this petition was rejected.