Ali Bapir

Ali Bapir, also called Mamosta Ali Bapir and Sheikh Ali Bapir (in Kurdish: مامۆستا عه‌لی باپیر, in Arabic: الشيخ علي بابير) is a Kurdish Islamic intellectual and politician in Iraqi Kurdistan. He is the founder of Kurdistan Islamic Group. Born 1961 in the Peshdar region, Iraqi Kurdistan.
He is most well known for his moderate religious views and his modern interpretation of Islam, which calls for coexistence in a democratic society. He has written more than 90 books on politics, Islam, society, Kurds and Kurdistan.
In 2009 Iraqi general elections for Council of Representatives, he was one of the top 10 candidates with most votes all over the country. His party has good relations with European Union countries, the United States and other countries in the region.
He is currently the leader of the Kurdistan Islamic Group, a major Islamic party in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Ali Bapir has stated his political party's position in relation to other Islamic groups.

" Our policy is that we enter into fraternity and cooperation with all Islamic groups. We seek such fraternal relations with Islamic parties and organizations, Islamist figures, and groups that follow a Salafi tradition or a Sufi or a scientific tradition. In the Komala Islami, we believe that the group must be open-minded and seek fraternity with all those who call or act for Islam. If we see a mistake, we will try to correct it through dialogue and by creating a fraternal atmosphere."

In the Iraqi legislative election of January 2005, it decided to run independently from the main Kurdish coalition. It received over 60,000 votes (about 0.7%) and two seats in the transitional National Assembly of Iraq. After the elections, the party agreed to join the Kurdish alliance's National Assembly caucus.

At the same time, it won 85,237 votes and 6 Kurdish National Assembly seats in the Kurdistan election on the same day. In the Local elections, that day they won 18,781 votes (2.9%) and 1 seat (out of 41) in Hawler as well as 53,088 votes (7.3%) and 3 (out of 41) seats in Silemani.

In the Iraqi legislative election of December 2005 they decided to join the Kurdish coalition and were allocated one seat.

In the Iraqi Kurdistan legislative election, 2009 they formed a coalition with the Kurdistan Islamic Union, Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party and the Future Party, called the Service and Reform List. The list came third in the election winning 240,842 votes (12.8%) and 13 (out of 111) seats.

In the Iraqi legislative election, 2010 they formed their own independent list. They received 152,530 votes (1.32%) and 2 seats (one in Hawler and one in Silemani).

Kurdistan Islamic Group (Kurdish: کۆمه‌لی ئیسلامی له‌ کوردستان / عێراق Komelî Îslamî le Kurdistan / 'Êraq; Arabic: الجماعة الإسلامية في كردستان / العراق al-Jumāʿa al-islāmiya fī Kurdistan - al-ʿIrāq) is an Islamist movement in Iraqi Kurdistan. Established by Ali Bapir in May 2001. Bapir is a former leader of the Islamic Movement of Kurdistan.