Mamology: Understanding the Characteristics of Mam Jalal

Latif Nerwayi, head of PUK Media Board.

Written by Latif Nerwayi, Head of the Media Board of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

The analysis and interpretation of rare and distinguished political figures in history is often approached from different perspectives. American scholars tend to focus on personal characteristics, while  Europeans  emphasise  the  influence of events and phenomena. Mam Jalal was one of the few leaders in contemporary history on whom both schools agree: he is almost unparalleled. Through a combination of his personal qualities and his impact on events, he proved himself to be unprecedented in modern history.

Although he faced immense challenges throughout his political, Peshmerga, and diplomatic struggles, Mam Jalal consistently attracted the attention of global political, cultural, and media circles, leaving his mark on major events. Therefore, if we were to conduct a survey on him on a global scale, we might begin with this simple question: Who is Mam Jalal?

In the United States, his reputation is reflected in the statements of Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, as well as Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Condoleezza Rice, while in Iran, in the praises of leaders such as Ayatollah Khamenei and Presidents Mohammad Khatami and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. At the Iraqi level, across all communities, the recognition of Mam Jalal as the “Samam al-Aman” (Safety Valve) by Sayyid Ali al-Sistani stands as a testament to his embodiment of both  Kurdism  and  humanity.  If  we were to ask the same question among Iraq’s diverse communities—Christians, Yazidis, Turkmens, Feylis, and other ethnic and religious groups in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region—the answer would undoubtedly be unanimous:  Mam  Jalal  was  our  guardian, and he was one of us.

The assessment and recognition of the world’s most capable diplomats show that Mam Jalal’s achievements went  beyond  merely  building  bridges; his true greatness laid in his ability to connect opposing parties and forge links between rivals. As the  prominent  Arab  journalist  Abdulrahman al-Rashed once wrote, he “is a man of balance, who can meet Condoleezza Rice and Ahmadinejad on the same day without angering either the Americans or the Iranians.”

This wise policy of balance also extended to Türkiye, where Mam Jalal successfully mediated between the Turkish government and the PKK. His efforts facilitated ceasefires, reduced bloodshed, and promoted long-lasting  stability  along  the  Kurdistan  Region’s  borders.  He  played a similar role between Shia and Sunni communities across Iraq.

Above all, Mam Jalal was a highly educated leader of his time, with a deep love of books and scholars. He consistently encouraged his cadres to read widely, often recommending books he believed every cadre should study. He emphasised the importance of raising awareness, reflecting the saying: “Teach your people, for an educated nation is easy to govern.”

This trait of Mam Jalal aligns with the saying: “A leader who does not have time to read newspapers and  books  clearly  does  not have time to know about the problems of the people.” His love of books reflected his love of history, and for him, reading history meant learning  from  the  successes and failures of those before him, and from the reasons behind both the victories and the defeats of peoples’ revolutions.

Armed with this knowledge, Mam Jalal was able to adapt to every stage and circumstance, drawing on the lessons of past struggles and the qualities of an educated and experienced leader. He rose to leadership at every level—first as a political leader, then as a Peshmerga  military  leader,  later  as the head of the opposition, and finally as a statesman in power and governance. He transitioned from leading a national revolution and liberation movement to becoming the President of Iraq and the defender of the rights of all communities in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country.

The opinion piece was translated into English by PUKMEDIA Editor.