Fakhriya Abdel Karim
Encyclopedia
Fakhriya Abdel Karim was a prominent Iraq
i actress and activist.
Known professionally as Zainab, she became an actress in the early 1950s when the Iraq
i film industry
was just emerging. She later starred in dozens of plays and several films.
She joined the Iraqi Communist Party
early in her life, becoming one of its activists in its fight against successive Iraq
i government
s. After Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein
launched a crackdown on communists, Abdel Karim left Iraq
in 1979, going to South Yemen and then to Syria
.
with her husband, director Latif Saleh.
on August 14, 1998, aged 63, in Goteborg, Sweden, where she had lived since 1991.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i actress and activist.
Known professionally as Zainab, she became an actress in the early 1950s when the Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i film industry
Film industry
The film industry consists of the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking: i.e. film production companies, film studios, cinematography, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, post production, film festivals, distribution; and actors, film directors and other film crew...
was just emerging. She later starred in dozens of plays and several films.
She joined the Iraqi Communist Party
Iraqi Communist Party
Since its foundation in 1934, the Iraqi Communist Party has dominated the left in Iraqi politics. It played a fundamental role in shaping the political history of Iraq between its foundation and the 1970s. The Party was involved in many of the most important national uprisings and demonstrations...
early in her life, becoming one of its activists in its fight against successive Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
s. After Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
launched a crackdown on communists, Abdel Karim left Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in 1979, going to South Yemen and then to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
.
Sweden
In 1991, she was given political asylum in SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
with her husband, director Latif Saleh.
Death
She died of ovarian cancerOvarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from the ovary. Symptoms are frequently very subtle early on and may include: bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating and frequent urination, and are easily confused with other illnesses....
on August 14, 1998, aged 63, in Goteborg, Sweden, where she had lived since 1991.