Abd al-Karim Barjas

Abdulkareem Burjis al-Rawi (died 14 June 2022) was the first post-invasion Governor of Iraq's Al Anbar province, serving until August 2004, when he resigned.

Biography Shortly after the invasion in 2003, Sunni tribal leaders and former Ba'athists, led by members of the Al-Kharbit (Khalifa) and Al-Gaoud (Nimr) families met to select Abdulkareem Burjis, a former General, as their unofficial leader and new Governor of Anbar Province. Burjis's position was later recognized by the coalition.

Barjis resigned in August 2004 after his three sons — Ezideen, Ibrahim, and Mustafa — were released in Fallujah by militants who had been holding them. The militants responsible then released a video on 5 August 2004 showing Barjis resigning and apologizing for opposing the Iraqi insurgency. In the video Barjis stated, "I am Abdulkareem Barjis, governor of Al-Anbar. I declare before God and you my repentance of any action I did against the mujahedin, and I announce my resignation of my post." The United States subsequently announced it would not make concessions to hostage takers. The militants responsible were believed to be members of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

After his resignation an interim governor filled the role of Governor of Anbar. in January 2005, and the Provincial Governing Council subsequently appointed Raja Nawaf Farhan al-Mahalawi as the new Governor.