An Eternal Love for an Eternal President

Zhinar Mohammed

Written by Journalist Zhinar Mohammed

The everlasting mourning for  the  passing  of  President Mam Jalal must evolve, transforming this sorrow into a renewed commitment to the rich and ever-living culture of an unprecedented leader. Mam Jalal may have departed physically, but his spirit, vision, policies, and convictions remain immortal.

Across the world, Kurds, like all other nations, struggle to cope with the loss of their great figures and symbols—leaders whose charisma and historic roles shaped the destiny of peoples and national movements. Their sudden passing leaves behind profound grief and lasting sorrow, with the face of mourning lingering for a long time. This deep attachment to leaders is not new; it has always existed and will continue to endure as part of the political and human experience.

As a historic national leader, Mam Jalal played a decisive role in reigniting  the  revolution,  overthrowing  the  Ba’ath  regime in Iraq, and laying the foundations for forming a democratic government in the Kurdistan Region. His steadfast belief in democracy and the peaceful transfer of power took him to the presidential palace, where he made history as the first Kurdish president and  the  first  democratically elected president in Iraq’s political history. This fact alone testifies that he never sought power through force, but only in line with his ideals of democracy and peaceful coexistence.

The respect and love for Mam Jalal, even years after his death, extend far beyond the Kurds and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. At the Iraqi and regional levels, his wisdom is still sorely missed in times of political crises, agreements, and conflicts. In Iraq’s long history, no one has embodied such a unique combination of wisdom, knowledge, and balance as Mam Jalal.

Now  is  the  time  to  transform  mourning into action—to turn grief into projects that carry forward President Mam Jalal’s vision. His image,  beliefs,  and  legacy  must  remain in our hearts, minds, and collective memory, as we continue striving to achieve the great dreams he left behind.

The opinion piece was translated into English by PUKMEDIA Editor.