Hero Ibrahim Ahmed, First Lady of Iraq

Hero Ibrahim Ahmed, First Lady of Iraq

Hero Ahmad is the daughter of Ibrahim Ahmad, the spouse of Jalal Talabani and the mother of Qubad Talabani.

She was Born in 1948 to an active family that was struggling against oppression in Iraq. Her father, Ibrahim Ahmad was imprisoned at Abu Graib in the 1950s which motivated her to follow politics.

Her family was exiled to Kirkuk in 1954 and placed under house arrest until their return to Silemani in 1953. Upon returning her father was wounded in an assassination attempt.

Her family moved to Baghdad in 1958, where Hero pursued an education. She couldn’t finish her education because of a military coup in Iraq which forced her family to flee to Iran, where she again resumed her education. In 1972 she graduated from Mustansiriya University, Baghdad in Psychology, and gave birth to her eldest son Bafil.

She is active in the media and is the founder of one of the major Kurdish TV Channel Kurdsat TV.

She actively promotes art and culture and has been instrumental in supporting the younger generation artists. Being a musician herself, Hero has supported several music projects, both for fund raising and for the media, and is committed to continuing her support in the future. Hero is also a women’s right activist promoting music and art. She used the Kurdsat TV Channel to launch multiple women awareness projects.

Hero is currently the director of Kurdistan Save the Children (KSC) a charity organisation that aims to provide food, shelter and education for thousands of displaced orphans. She recognised that at that time a grassroots Kurdish organization was very much needed, as the involvement of local staff would ensure a better understanding of people’s needs.