Kasim al-Sahlani graduated from the Maysan Teaching Institute in 1969 and became a primary school teacher in Baghdad.

In 1979 Al-Sahlani left Iraq for the USA where he studied for his PhD in Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh.

Al-Sahlani was unable to complete his PhD though, as he was pursued and harassed incessantly by members of the Baathist regime (Mokabaraat), and forced to abandon his studies.

The next few years saw him travel to many countries before finally settling in the UK where he became an important figure in the Iraqi opposition to Saddam's regime.

Kasim al-Sahlani was killed in a traffic accident (21 June 2009), while traveling on official duties from Basra to Nasiriyah.