Honoring Dr. Najmaldin Karim on the Fifth Anniversary of His Passing

Washington Kurdish Institute | Yousif Ismael  | October 30, 2025

Today marks five years since the passing of Dr. Najmaldin Karim. On this solemn anniversary, we remember the life of a remarkable man who devoted himself to serving others. As someone who served as the Director of the Washington Kurdish Institute (WKI), the organization he founded, I write with deep respect and gratitude to honor his memory and legacy. Dr. Karim was not only our founder; he was our mentor, our advocate, and a shining example of what committed leadership looks like. His absence continues to be felt, but his vision remains a guiding force for all of us.

Dr. Najmaldin Karim was a man of many talents and unwavering conviction. He was a distinguished neurosurgeon, a lifelong activist for the Kurdish cause, and a respected public servant who served as the Governor of Kirkuk from 2011 to 2017. Above all, he was a patriot devoted to the dignity and rights of his people. Those who knew him admired his integrity, courage, and tireless advocacy on behalf of Kurds and all who face injustice. On this fifth anniversary of his passing, we celebrate every aspect of his extraordinary life: physician, leader, human rights advocate, and champion of Kurdish self-determination.

Born in 1949 in Kirkuk, Dr. Karim showed early signs of a deep calling to heal and to stand up for what is right. As a medical student at Mosul University, he became active in the Kurdish student union, where he spoke out for the rights of his community. After receiving his medical degree in 1972, he joined the Kurdish Peshmerga resistance as a young doctor, treating wounded fighters and civilians who suffered under oppression. During this period, he also served as a personal physician to General Mustafa Barzani, an experience that solidified his lifelong commitment to the Kurdish struggle for freedom. These early chapters of his life reveal his essence clearly: a healer who was unafraid to fight for justice.

Following the collapse of the Kurdish revolution in 1975, Dr. Karim left Iraq and began a new life in the United States. There he completed his neurosurgery residency at George Washington University and later practiced at Johns Hopkins Hospital, becoming highly respected in the medical community. Even with a demanding career, his dedication to his homeland never wavered. After long shifts in the operating room, he would continue working late into the night to spread awareness of Kurdish issues. He balanced two missions at once: saving lives and advocating for the rights of the Kurdish people.

His work in the diaspora soon made him a national figure among Kurdish communities worldwide. He co-founded the Kurdish National Congress of North America in the early 1990s and served as its president for many years, helping unify Kurdish voices and bringing international attention to their struggle. In 1996, he founded the WKI: an organization devoted to advancing human rights, democracy, and cultural understanding for Kurds everywhere. Through conferences, publications, and diplomacy, he ensured that Kurdish issues reached policymakers and the global public at a critical moment in history.

Dr. Karim excelled in educating leaders and building lasting relationships across political and cultural divides. His advocacy helped ensure that tragedies such as the Anfal genocide were recognized internationally and that Kurdish rights remained an important subject in Washington and other world capitals. He worked not for recognition but for results, and the results he achieved shaped policy and changed lives.

After decades abroad, Dr. Karim returned to Kurdistan determined to help rebuild his homeland. He was elected to the Iraqi Parliament in 2010 and became Governor of Kirkuk the following year. His tenure came during a period of immense turmoil, yet he remained committed to strengthening public services, improving infrastructure, and ensuring that every resident of Kirkuk: Kurdish, Turkmen, Arab, and Christian, felt represented and protected. His efforts earned him widespread respect and genuine affection in a region too often defined by division.

In 2017, when the Kurdistan Region held its historic independence referendum, Dr. Karim stood firmly with his people in their right to self-determination. That principled stance brought political consequences, including his unlawful removal from office, but he never strayed from what he knew was right. He always made decisions rooted in the belief that the Kurdish people deserved the power to shape their own future.

During his final year, while battling illness, Dr. Karim continued to assist those leading the Kurdish cause, offering guidance and encouragement whenever possible. He passed away on October 30, 2020 in Washington, D.C., surrounded by his beloved family. The profound grief that followed, both in Kurdistan and across the global Kurdish diaspora, reflected the magnitude of his impact. He was laid to rest in the land he loved, his body wrapped in the flag of Kurdistan. He had expressed his wish that one day he be reburied in his hometown of Kirkuk when it is free once more. His love for Kirkuk and for Kurdistan endured even in his final wishes.

For all of us at the WKI, Dr. Karim’s legacy continues to serve as a compass. He showed us how one person can make a difference through resilience, knowledge, and moral clarity. In every program we lead and every voice we raise for justice, we carry forward his example. He believed in peaceful advocacy, educated activism, and the power of truth. 

On this fifth anniversary, we honor Dr. Najmaldin Karim by renewing our dedication to the causes he championed throughout his life. His work as a physician inspires us to heal and uplift our communities. His example as a governor and public servant motivates us to act with fairness, courage, and loyalty to the people we serve. His steadfast belief in Kurdish self-determination strengthens our resolve to continue working toward a future where the Kurdish nation can live freely and peacefully.

Though five years have passed, his influence remains strong. We miss his wisdom, his presence, and his passionate voice. Yet we find comfort in knowing that the seeds he planted continue to grow in the hearts and minds of the Kurdish people and their allies. His life remains a powerful testament to hope, leadership, and perseverance.

Dr. Najmaldin Karim will forever be remembered as a healer, a leader, and a patriot. His name has become inseparable from the ongoing pursuit of justice and freedom for the Kurdish people. As we commemorate this anniversary, we not only mourn his loss but also celebrate the enduring legacy he left behind. May his example continue to inspire future generations, and may his dream of a free, just, and peaceful Kurdistan be realized.