The Democratic Union Party (PYD) General Council released a statement marking the 4th anniversary of the death of Mam Jalal Talabani, former President of Iraq and former chair of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

The statement said:

“Four years have passed since the passing of National Leader Mam Jalal Talabani. Mam Jalal Talabani’s enlightening thoughts and struggle continue to be a source of inspiration for all peoples struggling for freedom today.

We, as the PYD General Council, faithfully embrace his inheritance of struggle as a duty.

We vow to remain faithful to his struggle and enhance the resistance until Kurdish people and all other peoples achieve their rights.”

Jalal Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and former head of state of Iraq, died on 3 October 2017 at the age of 83.

Talabani, a.k.a Mam Jalal (Uncle Jalal) died in Berlin after his health rapidly deteriorated since September 12. Talabani survived a stroke in 2012 but he had to step down as head of state of Iraq because of health problems.

Talabani struggled against Iraq’s dictatorial regime as a guerrilla for decades and survived brutal attacks by Saddam Huseyin in 1990s.