On Saturday, Feb 13, PUK Co-leader Lahur Talabany conveyed a message to Mr. Ammar al-Hakim, Head of the National Wisdom Movement, on the occasion of the 18th ceremony of the death of Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim.
Below is the context of his message:
In the name of Allah the Merciful
Respected brother, His Eminence, Mr. Ammar Al-Hakim, head of the National Wisdom Movement.
On this ceremony and the time when we salute the Grand Ayatollah, the martyr Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim (قُدسَ سِره), our country is in desperate need and more than ever for the "Hakim of Iraq" to gather his wounds.
Eighteen years have passed since the martyrdom of Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim at the hands of terrorism. However, day after day, the historical position and emptiness that this tall man left in the country's religious, political, and national mounds is more embodied.
Without a doubt, if this long-time friend of Mam Jalal was alive, Iraq would have had a more prosperous and more deserving future. When the enemies of the new Iraq shed the blood of the martyr of the Mihrab, it was not a coincidence, as they targeted unity, harmony, and the independence of Iraq.
After the operations to liberate Iraq, which was achieved through the struggle of tens of years of national and national organizational movements and with international support, the martyr Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim, as one of the supreme national leaders, wanted to build the future of Iraq.
He wanted an Iraq that accommodates Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, national minorities, and other sects, Sunnis and Shias after the demise of a repressive dictatorship. He wanted a country that would be for everyone, in which it would achieve harmony, coexistence, and building, for it to be the voice of the people and election, peace, freedom, and stability.
We, in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, consider ourselves the inheritors of those deep and intimate relations between the nation’s deceased President Mam Jalal and the Grand Ayatollah al-Hakim, whose foundation is the hope of establishing a more developed future for Iraq and our people.
From here, and out of awareness of the sensitivity of the situation in Iraq these days and the security, economic and political challenges facing our people, especially the people of Kurdistan, we renew our commitment to the original foundations of the national partnership, and in return, we wish the lovers and companions of "Hakim of Iraq" to not deviate from the path of the wise martyr in dealing with the country at present.
We encourage them to serve from the use of harmony and coexistence in political work and state administration, and we demand the constitutional rights of the people of Kurdistan, which is the basis for strengthening and preserving the body of coexistence, stability, and prosperity of the country.
Rest assured, our people and our union have made great sacrifices in facing the dictatorial and terrorist regime and building the new Iraq, while we value the sacrifices of Ayatollah al-Hakim and his principles of coexistence, national partnership, and true participation.
Redemption for the martyr of the mihrab and all the martyrs of Al-Hakim family.