TARIQ 'AZIZ - IRAQ

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05381046
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: March 31, 2016
• Case Number: F-2015-01885
• Publication Date: May 6, 1977

(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2016/03/23 C05381046
Tang 'Aziz
' (Phonetic: ahZBEZ)
Minister of Information
(since November 1974)
Addressed as:
Mr. Minister
A member of the
Ba'th Party of Iraq (BPI)
since the early 1950's,
and the most prominent
Christian Ba!thi, Tang
'Aziz is head of Iraq's
propaganda establishment.
He has served on the media
side of the BPI since at
least 1963 and has gradually
broadened his influence
to become the chief spokes-
man for the Barthist regime. Be is considered to be
a close associate of Saddam Husayn, Vice Chairman of
the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC), and he
was instrumental in promoting Husayn's recent pro-
ductivity campaign. In January 1977 he was elected
a member of the BPI Regional Command (BPIRC), while
retaining his Information portfolio. 'Aziz has been
editor of at-Thawra, the BPI's official newspaper,
since 1970.
IRAQ
M9
During his early years, 'Aziz was a member of
the Ba'th Party's Education, Studies, and Preparation
Bureau and edited two newspapers--al-/shtiraki (the
Socialist) and Waa'i (WorkerS' Consciousness).
He served as editor of.al-Jamahir alter the 1963
Ba'th coup. Elected a candidate member of the Ba'th
National Command in 1965, 'Aziz participated in the
coup that returned the party to power in 1968.
Afterwards he was appointed deputy director of the
Information and Publications Bureau and of the
Education, Studies, and Preparation Bureau. In '
Apkil 1972 'Aziz was appointed a member of the Public
Affairs Office at the RCC, and in January 1974 he
was elected a candidate member of his party's Regional
Command..
'Aziz, about 41, is a Chaldean Christian. Many
Christians ,regard him as their re Presentative within
the BPI, but he is not considered Particularly
sympathetic toward Iraq's minority Christian communities.
'Aziz earned a degree in English from the College of
Arts at the University of Baghdad ia 1958. He is
married to a Christian from Mosul.
CR M 77-12253
41,6 may 1977
(b)(3)
A roved for Release: 2016/03/23 C05381046
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