PUK Politburo: President Mam Jalal’s Historic Pleading Became the Cornerstone of Article 140

PUKMEDIA

Late President Mam Jalal during his pleading.

The Political Bureau of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) issued a statement marking the 22nd anniversary of the historic pleading delivered by President Mam Jalal on 9 February 2004, before the Iraqi Governing Council, in which he presented historical documents and maps to affirm the Kurdish identity of Kirkuk and other Kurdish regions.

The statement emphasised that President Mam Jalal’s address later became a foundational reference for the inclusion of Article 140 in the Iraqi Constitution, which outlines the mechanism for resolving the status of areas subjected to demographic change under Iraq's former Ba’ath regime.

The statement read: “Today, 9 February, we commemorate with great respect the day on which President Mam Jalal proved, through historical documents and maps, the Kurdish identity of Kirkuk.”

It noted that in his 2004 address, President Mam Jalal carried the national and historical concerns of the Kurdish people while also focusing on determining the fate of areas affected by Arabisation and forced displacement policies. 

His objective, the statement said, was to restore the rights of the original inhabitants, rectify historical injustices, and define the borders of the Kurdistan Region within a federal Iraq based on legal, historical, and geographical foundations.

The statement underlined that President Mam Jalal’s intervention laid the groundwork for Article 58 of the Iraqi State Administration Law, which later evolved into Article 140 of the Constitution of the Republic of Iraq. 

“This constitutional article remains the roadmap for addressing the status of regions such as Kirkuk and other areas that were subjected to systematic demographic manipulation by the former regime,” the statement said.

The statement described 9 February 2004, as a landmark moment in the enduring struggle of President Mam Jalal, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and the Kurdish people. It highlighted that this approach marked a shift toward resolving complex national issues through dialogue, understanding, and reliance on historical and legal evidence rather than conflict.

The statement concluded: “We salute the revered memory of President Mam Jalal. Our people’s honourable struggle to achieve their constitutional rights, in accordance with the roadmap of Article 140, will continue until justice is realised and ultimate victory is achieved.”



PUKMEDIA