DPM Talabani Unveils Guardians of Truth Monument

Qubad Talabani's media

Deputy PM Qubad Talabani next to the Guardians of Truth Monument.

On Saturday, September 14, 2024, Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, and Muayyad al-Lami, head of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, together with Sulaymaniyah Governor Haval Abubakr, attended the unveiling of the Guardians of Truth Monument in Sulaymaniyah. 

This monument provides an extensive list of journalists who have been martyred in the course of their professional careers during the last two decades.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Muayyad al-Lami, head of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, said: "I take great pride in being present in Sulaymaniyah province today and taking part in a profound commemoration for the martyrs of Iraqi journalists. This event was organised by Qubad Talabani, the son of President Mam Jalal, hence demonstrating his adherence to his father's legacy."

He added: "We have witnessed the tragic loss of over 60 journalists, of both genders, who have sacrificed their lives in the battle against ISIS terrorists, while fulfilling their sacred responsibility of reporting the events to the public. The construction of this monument demonstrates the significant value placed by President Mam Jalal, his son Qubad Talabani, and even his family on journalists and freedom of speech."

He further stated: "At this ceremony, I reiterate the support of the Iraqi Union of Journalists for the journalists in the Kurdistan Region. We will strive to collaborate with journalists and the Sulaymaniyah branch of Kurdistan Journalists to actively support journalists and safeguard their rights."

Afterwards, a documentary film was provided detailing the concept of the monument, its execution, and the reasoning behind the designation of Azadi Park. Between 2003 and the present, Iraq and Syria have accounted for one third of the journalists who have been killed worldwide.

Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, who developed the idea and oversaw the construction of the monument, greeted the visitors and announced:  "We shall always remember the courage of the journalists who were martyred. This memorial is an endeavour to keep their names alive and uphold their solemn duty."

"Among the 551 journalists who have been honoured at this monument, the most recent additions include two female journalists, Hero and Gulistan, who were assassinated on Arbat road in the last three weeks. We wish that they be the final martyrs of journalists, whose names will be immortalised in this monument,” Talabani stated.

Regarding the selection of Azadi Park for the monument installation, DPM Talabani stated: "The selection of Azadi Park as the location for the monument was motivated by two factors. Firstly, the blood of our sons was shed by the Ba'ath regime and many Kurdish sons were martyred here. Secondly, President Mam Jalal established the platform of freedom in this location and designated it as a space for free and brave expression of opinions. Therefore, placing this monument in this location was the most optimal choice."

"Lack of freedom renders no society healthy, and as Kurds, we have made numerous sacrifices for this freedom. Therefore, it is our responsibility to safeguard it, and we owe these martyrs as much as we owe our other martyrs," he stated.

"We exerted significant effort to create this monument due to the absence of a bureau in Iraq that maintained a comprehensive registry of all the martyrs. Consequently, we had to obtain the names of each journalist who was martyred from a designated centre," he explained.

DPM Talabani further stated: "In conjunction with the building of this monument, a website has been established to record the names, photographs, and identities of journalists who were martyred. Our goal is to gather the names of all the martyrs within the context of biographies and establish it as a significant hub for the martyrs of journalists. We firmly think that the martyrs of journalists will endure as immortal figures and epitomise heroism and freedom of the press."

According to information available to PUKMEDIA, the monument is placed close to the Platform of Freedom at Azadi Park in Sulaymaniyah. Its purpose is to pay tribute to the memories of 551 journalists who have lost their lives in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region since 2003.

Platform of Freedom is a platform created by President Mam Jalal in Azadi Park, Sulaymaniyah, so that all the different opinions are conveyed freely from this place, and President Mam Jalal told everyone: "Start criticising with criticising me."

At the same time, Sulaymaniyah is considered one of the safest cities for journalists, where journalists are free compared to other parts of the Kurdistan Region. Based on evaluations conducted by both local and international organisations dedicated to journalists advocacy, Sulaymaniyah is a peaceful environment for journalists and has the lowest incidence of violence directed towards them.



PUKMEDIA