Mam Jalal: The Scent that Holds All Perfumes in One

Imad Ahmed

Written by Imad Ahmed, Head of the Media and Awareness Bureau of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

As we stand at the threshold of another autumn, our eyes well with tears for the passing of our president and leader, while the season’s colourful leaves fall before us. Now is the time to water the roots of our PUK with these tears, so that by spring it may grow into the greenest of trees, offering the widest shade for Kurdish identity.

Autumn and its stories remind us of our martyrs, our prisoners, and their unparalleled tales of resistance — stories that, together with the Peshmerga and our people, created a new harmony and gave birth to the spring of uprising. Today, our challenges and crises must not weaken us; rather, they should become a source of strength, compelling us to transform ourselves and those around us, inspired and guided by the enduring political wisdom of Mam Jalal.

The destiny of the PUK has always been that behind every victory lies blood, and behind every joy lies sorrow — a reality that has made us value our achievements more than others. Yet today, our supporter, our uncle, is no longer with us; the one who once stood as a mountain behind the PUK and its people. Now, more than ever, we must embrace the spirit of Mam and let his path be our guide — not only out of loyalty to his legacy, but to ensure we do not commit grave strategic mistakes.

This autumn, in just a few days, we will face another painful memory — the moment when our former friends unscrupulously seized the opportunity to turn the referendum, which drew endless commentary, into *“Osman’s shirt.” What we reclaimed with blood from ISIS and safeguarded with sacrifice, they took by force, imposing a political, financial, economic, and administrative blockade on the Kurdistan Region. With their poisonous dagger, they not only reoccupied large parts of Kurdistan and martyred many PUK Peshmergas, but also sowed the seeds of a new division among us. For eight years, alongside other crises, this wound has remained another disaster for Kurdistan, eating away at the body of Kurdism — uniting our adversaries while dividing us within.

Yet despite all external obstacles, what makes this natural autumn of Kurdistan also a political autumn is corruption, weak democratic institutions, the failure to transform the legitimacy of the revolution into the legitimacy of law and statehood, and the sacrifice of the future for small, daily gains. To overcome these challenges, we must once again use this autumn as a source of tools, energy, and determination to solve all problems. With unity, shared purpose, and collective effort, we can achieve a lasting spring of Kurdism. Let the colours of political pluralism and freedom of opinion flourish, and let us come together as the harmony and symphony of Kurdish revival.

We have been without Mam Jalal for eight years. He was only one tree, yet his presence felt like all the gardens of the world. A bouquet of flowers within a single bloom, the scent that holds all perfumes in one. He embodied the whole of Kurdistan in one leader. With every passing moment of this eternal journey, he grows ever closer to us. Today, the PUK and all parties across Kurdistan and Iraq long for the wisdom and foresight of Mam Jalal. Let us hold steadfast to his guidance and proclaim: *“You are our guide and leader forever.”* For through his unparalleled skills, he rose above the PUK and all partisan divisions, becoming a shelter for all.

Translator's note: *(“Osman’s shirt” refers to a historical incident following the assassination of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan, whose blood-stained shirt was displayed to stir anger and mobilise people. Today, the phrase is used metaphorically to describe a situation where a painful event is exploited for political gain.)*

This opinion piece by Imad Ahmed is translated into English by Besha Jawhar.