PUK VP: Mam Jalal’s Political Legacy Remains Rich With Advocacy for Kurdistan

PUK VP's Media Office

PUK VP Rifaat Abdullah.

The Vice President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) issued a message commemorating the anniversary of the historic appeal delivered by late President Jalal Talabani (Mam Jalal), emphasising his pivotal role in affirming the Kurdish identity of Kirkuk.

PUK Vice President Rifaat Abdullah said in a statement on the occasion that President Mam Jalal’s historic pleading, where he proved Kirkuk's Kurdistani identity before Iraq's governing council: “President Mam Jalal’s record of struggle is marked by steadfast advocacy for Kurdistan, with the defense and affirmation of the Kurdish identity of Kirkuk standing as a central pillar of his political legacy.”

“We proudly commemorate the historic appeal of President Mam Jalal,” Abdullah said. “As an experienced lawyer and statesman, he succeeded in proving the Kurdishness of Kirkuk before the members of the Governing Council through maps and well-documented historical evidence.”

He added that Mam Jalal’s political legacy remains rich with advocacy for Kurdistan, noting that his presentation before the Governing Council marked a defining moment in the progressive national struggle.

“The appeal delivered at the Governing Council stands as a brilliant milestone in the long and principled struggle of our leader Mam Jalal,” Abdullah stated.

Reflecting on the passage of time since the historic event, Abdullah stressed the need to draw lessons from Mam Jalal’s approach.

“Twenty-two years after this historic moment, we must continue along the path laid out by President Mam Jalal and adopt his political vision as a roadmap for achieving constitutional and democratic solutions to outstanding challenges,” he concluded.

Twenty-two years ago today, during a historic session of the Iraqi Governing Council, the late President Jalal Talabani, Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and a member of the council, delivered a landmark speech calling for the return of Kurds and Turkmen forcibly expelled from Kirkuk under Saddam Hussein’s regime and for a referendum to determine the city’s future.

The Iraqi Governing Council served as Iraq’s provisional government from 13 July 2003 to 1 June 2004. In his address on 9 February 2004, President Talabani—widely known as Mam Jalal—presented extensive historical, legal and cartographic evidence demonstrating that Kirkuk is a Kurdish city and an integral part of Kurdistan.



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