Andrew White in Iraq

Andrew White’s long association with Iraq began in 1998 when he was directing the International Centre for Reconciliation (ICR) at Coventry Cathedral and considering the question: Which were the nations with whom we have to work towards reconciliation now? High on the list was Iraq.

By 1998 there were clear signs that the economic sanctions imposed on Saddam Hussein’s regime were hurting the people of Iraq terribly whilst showing little sign of affecting the dictator’s grip on the country. There was no meaningful dialogue between Iraq and the world and US air strikes had restarted.

Andrew and his team at the ICR started making approaches to contacts within Iraq hoping to be allowed to see the situation first hand. Time after time they were knocked back with the same response: ‘We don’t want your help. Just stop the sanctions!’ After much persistence, progress was made in the form of a personal invitation from no less than Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz. And so on the 11th March 1999 Andrew set off for Iraq. Driving from Amman, Jordan to Baghdad gave Andrew his first taste of Iraq. Banners with Saddam's images were everywhere. Much of the country was showing signs of the sanctions – cars with broken windows, shabby equipment and empty shops. Andrew was introduced to another feature of life in Iraq – the Mukhabarat – Saddam’s spies who accompanied Andrew everywhere he went.

Right from this first trip Andrew began meeting influential people including Ministers and Senior Religious leaders. This very early engagement in Iraq gave Andrew the credibility and sowed the seeds of the relationships which make him able to be an effective mediator today. It was during this trip that Andrew first visited the Anglican Church of St George of Mesopotamia. Andrew was granted permission by Tariq Aziz to restore and use this church which he is now the Vicar of (please see the St George’s section of this site).

In the years since that first trip Andrew has never been away from Iraq for long.  This dedication to Iraq has resulted in Andrew having a huge network of contacts which he and the FRRME use to make things happen that other Western intermediaries cannot. He is now rector of the largest church in Iraq and during the week, engages in diplomatic work amongst Iraq’s religious leaders with whom he has formed a ‘High Council’ to bring to bear an influence for peace upon the Iraqi people through the highest figures of religious authority. He also has many years of experience in delicate negotiations with hostage-takers. With his commitments there growing over time he is now in Iraq all but a few days each month. His visits have often been sad. From witnessing hospitals full of children dying of sickness in the Saddam era to the horrors of sectarian violence today, working in Iraq has not been easy. However his commitment is total – as he says to his Parishioners in St Georges, Baghdad ‘I will not leave you’.

For more about Andrew’s work in Iraq, you can refer to his books in the Shop section of our site.