Speaker Dr. Faiq's message on 17th anniversary of the late Mam Jalal Talabani's election as President of Iraq

Seventeen years ago today the late Mam Jalal Talabani was elected President of Iraq, the first Kurdish president in Iraq's history, marking a great historic achievement for the Kurdish people. He was the first president to be elected after the fall of the Ba'ath regime, the first time in the history of Iraqi rule that a Kurd was elected president. In his term of office he played a significant role in governing Iraq.

After Mam Jalal’s illness up to today, the diverse peoples of Iraq of different ethnicities, religions and sects long for the days when Mam Jalal was president, when he built unity and coexistence. The people of Iraq and Kurdistan still remember those times.

In today’s era of obstacles and mistrust in Iraq and Kurdistan, now more than ever we need to return to the patriotic path that Mam Jalal broke through his wisdom and farsightedness, so that we can bring together those who are on diverging paths.

Mam Jalal now more than ever lives on in the minds and hearts of Iraqis. Rest in peace the pure soul who promoted peace and unity; rest in peace the pure soul who, rather than planting seeds of disunity, planted love and life in everyone’s hearts.

Dr. Rewaz Faiq

Speaker of Kurdistan parliament

6 April 2022