Ala Bashir

Ala Bashir is a prominent Iraqi painter, sculptor and
internationally known plastic surgeon who once treated
thousands of Iraqi soldiers for disabilities arising out of
wounds sustained during the 1980-1988 war with Iran.

He was also a senior surgeon at Baghdad's Ibn Sina hospital
where he provided medical services to Saddam Hussein and
senior Iraqi cabinet members.

Dr Bashir left Iraq after US-led occupation forces reached
Baghdad on 9 April and stayed in Qatar for a while before
moving on to Norway.