At a Glance

• Baghdad hosted a memorial ceremony marking nine years since the passing of former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.
• Iraqi political and diplomatic figures attended the event, held under President Nizar Amedi’s auspices.
• Speakers highlighted Talabani’s emphasis on dialogue, political consensus, and participation.
• The ceremony featured musical and documentary tributes to his life and political career.

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Baghdad on Saturday hosted a ceremony commemorating the ninth anniversary of the passing of former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, known as Mam Jalal.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• Dialogue and Consensus: "President Mam Jalal’s intellect was distinguished by his ability to resolve problems amidst complex circumstances that required dialogue and political consensus." — Iraqi President Nizar Amedi.
• Political Cooperation: "Resolving problems is achieved not through division, but through agreement, understanding, and tolerance." — Iraqi Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi.
• Focus Area: Speakers centered their remarks on Talabani’s political legacy and his emphasis on dialogue, consensus, and cooperation among Iraq’s political and social components.

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The ceremony began with a Quran recitation and the reading of Surah Al-Fatiha in memory of Talabani and those killed in Iraq. The Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra then performed Shawqan Jalal, a poem by Iraqi poet Muhammad Mahdi al-Jawahiri. A documentary about Talabani’s life and political struggle was also screened during the event.

President Nizar Amedi welcomed the attendees and spoke about Talabani’s role in Iraq, the Kurdistan Region and the wider region. He said the anniversary provided an opportunity to remember the former president’s political experience and the lessons associated with it.

Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi said the commemoration also represented an opportunity to reflect on Iraq’s political history. He described Talabani as a figure who brought different political positions together through dialogue.

Ammar al-Hakim, head of the National Wisdom Movement, also addressed the gathering, describing Talabani as an Iraqi political figure with a prominent place in the country’s political history. He highlighted Talabani’s support for the Kurdish cause and his stated commitment to the rights of Iraq’s citizens.

Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, head of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, said Talabani viewed national participation and constitutional principles as central to Iraq’s stability. He also referred to partnership as an important element of the late president’s political approach.

Former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmed Davutoglu recalled his meetings with Talabani and described him as a politician who sought to bring Iraqis and Kurds together. Davutoğlu also spoke about Talabani’s personal approach to political relationships.

Talabani died on October 3, 2017, and annual commemorations have since been held in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The ninth anniversary is being marked on October 3, 2026.

FYI

Jalal Talabani served as president of Iraq from 2005 to 2014 and was the first non-Arab president of Iraq after 2003. He was also a founder of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and remained a prominent figure in Kurdish and Iraqi politics until his death.

Preparations for this year’s Baghdad commemoration began months earlier. President Nizar Amedi met with representatives of the President Jalal Talabani Foundation and the Secretariat Office of Mam Jalal in August to discuss arrangements for the anniversary and described Talabani as a unifying national figure associated with dialogue, understanding, and partnership.

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