Kirkuk Pays Tribute to President Mam Jalal with Largest Statue in His Honour

Iraqi First Lady’s media office

President Mam Jalal’s statue in Kirkuk.

The city of Kirkuk hosted a grand ceremony on Wednesday evening to unveil the largest statue of the late President Jalal Talabani (Mam Jalal) in Darwaza Park, located along the Kirkuk–Sulaymaniyah road. The event drew a large official and public gathering, reflecting the deep affection and respect held for the late Kurdish leader across all communities of the city.

Among those in attendance were First Lady Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, Aso Mamand, Member of the Political Bureau of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and supervisor of the party’s organisations in Kirkuk–Saladin, Kirkuk Governor Rebwar Taha, and Dr Mohammed Sabir, President of the Jalal Talabani Foundation, along with several members of the Iraqi Parliament, PUK leaders, and prominent political, cultural, and social figures.

During the ceremony, speakers paid tribute to President Mam Jalal’s national and pioneering role in establishing the principles of brotherhood and peaceful coexistence among Iraq’s diverse communities, his pivotal contribution to shaping the post-2003 political process, and his lifelong defence of the rights of the Kurdish and Iraqi peoples.

In his address, Aso Mamand remarked that although President Mam Jalal was always busy, he frequently visited Kirkuk and met with all its communities. “For this reason,” he said, “President Mam Jalal was loved not only by the PUK and the Kurds, but by all communities alike.”

Dr Mohammed Sabir noted: “This occasion is a remarkable opportunity to demonstrate the profound affection the people of Kirkuk hold for this great leader, who dedicated his life to service.”

Meanwhile, Governor Rebwar Taha said: “The statue is not merely a carved stone, but a symbol of loyalty and a lasting tribute to a leader who dedicated his life to serving his country. No matter what we do, no matter how we work and serve, we can never match President Mam Jalal’s devotion to Kirkuk. We are therefore proud to follow his path, for it is the path of service.”

Standing six metres tall, the statue took five months of continuous work by sculptor Saman Abubakr, who masterfully captured Mam Jalal’s features in a realistic artistic style that reflects his stature as a historic Iraqi Kurdish leader.



PUKMEDIA