Flags of Iraq and Southern Kurdistan are flown at half mast in Sulaymaniyah due to the passing of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Secretary General Jalal Talabani. Flags were lowered to half mast after a ceremony held in front of the Sulaymaniyah Governorate.

Governor of Sulaymaniyah Omer Qeladizî spoke in the ceremony and said: “Mam Jalal was a charismatic leader among the peoples of the world. His departure has caused great sorrow for both us and the peoples of the world.”

“Mam Jalal’s passing has created a great void. His place can’t be filled,” said Qeladizî and continued: “He left a great legacy of struggle for us. He was a leader to not just the Kurdish people but the peoples of the world.”

Jalal Talabani, known as ‘Mam (Uncle) Jalal’ among the Kurds, will be laid to rest in Sulaymaniyah on Friday, October 6th.

Body of Talabani will be taken from Germany to Baghdad where an official ceremony will be held before the final journey to Sulaymaniyah.

In the meantime, Talabani’s wife Hero Ibrahim Ahmed and his sons Kubad and Pavel Talabani have left for Berlin, Germany where the Kurdish politician passed away while receiving treatment.

The family will be receiving condolence visits starting from October 7th, Saturday.