Najem Wali

Najem Wali (Arabic: نجم والي; born 1956) is an Iraqi novelist and journalist, based in Germany.

In 2009 he published "Reise in das Herz des Feindes" ("Journey into the Heart of the Enemy"), an account of his travels in Israel, which presented a positive view of the country.

Having finished his A-Levels in Basra and Amara (his official places of birth, by the way) he began his studies of German Literature at the University of Baghdad.

He came to the Federal Republic of Germany on November 8, 1980, where he continued his studies of German Language and Literature and obtained the degree of Magister Artium.

Having become a bestseller and been reprinted several times – especially in the Gulf States, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Egypt, the book soon advanced to a cult novel.

On behalf of the IOM (International Organisation for Migration) Najem Wali helped to organize the first Iraqi elections (January and February 2005) from his German exile.