The text of the speech of Sayyid Ammar Al-Hakeem at the annual Hussaini gathering in Al-Khilani Square 1443 AH
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our master Mohammed, his pure family, and his chosen companions
Peace be upon you, O Abu Abdullah, and upon the souls that fought by your side, and by your side slept the eternal sleep. Upon you from Allah and all of us, the eternal peace of Allah, for as long as we live and as long as the day and night, may Allah bless us with another day to visit your holy grounds... Peace be upon Al-Hussein, Ali bin Al-Hussein, the descendants of Al-Hussein, and all of those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Al-Hussein “PBUH”
Prayer of Allah, my body is yours and my words for your triumph if Allah doesn’t answer you, my heart, hearing, and sight answers you.
Dear loyal Hussainis, sons and daughters of Shaheed Al-Mihrab and Aziz Al-Iraq who join us from all the provinces of Iraq, peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.
How much, we need… how much the world needs, in the midst of darkness and Injustice that undergo due to perverted thoughts, sinful hands, and evil intentions that want evil, ruin, and deviation for mankind.
How much, are we in need of guiding lamps like the lamp of our Master and Maulana Abu Abdullah Al-Hussein “PBUH”, to guide man to his pure nature and his lofty position, which is to be denied and avoided by those who are against him.
How much, we need today and every day, the ship of Hussein “PBUH”, in the midst of these mighty storms and crashing waves of hatred, extremism, and fanaticism, to land us at the peace, security, moderation, truth, wisdom and measures shores, how not? And ((Al-Hussein is the lamp of guidance and the ark of salvation)).
That is what we mean when we keep on saying “every day is Ashura and every land is Karbala.” It’s because we are in a permanent and continuous confrontation with the forces of evil, distortion, terrorism, and falsehood.
Dear Beloveds: We gather here, as every year, to hold this significant ritual and the painful occasion and in this blazing heat.
Through it, let us console the Messenger of humanity, our Prophet Mohammed, his good family, his chosen companions, and all the free people of the world with this great calamity. When we gather at the rituals of Hussein, it’s a confirmation that we are the children of this generous ideology from which we gain and belong and adhere to its lofty values and principles. With this ideology, we purify our souls, hearts, and minds, and renew our covenants and promises to Al-Hussein, his family, his companions, his lovers, and those who follow his path and his righteous approach.
- Brothers and sisters: False pens and corrupt words have always tried to portray Al-Hussein “PBUH”, as a rebel against the law, a bender for the nation's power, and weakening the Islamic state and bad influence for Muslims, forgetting that Al-Hussein “PBUH” is the pillar of the nation, the pillar of its tent, the master of its youth and its great leader.
Al-Hussein “PBUH”, was revolting against injustice, chaos, and non-statehood, objecting to monopolizing and manipulating the nation’s capabilities, rejecting violence, hypocrisy, and lawlessness. Opposing counterfeiting, oppression, injustice, and deprivation.
-This is our Hussain whom we know, love, and follow, for he is the beacon, the compass, and the scale, since that day he sacrificed himself, his family, and his companions in Karbala with heroism and redemption to revive humanity, all humanity. and protect the nation, the entire nation. and correct with his pure blood the deviation and distortion of the righteous march.
We learned from Al-Hussein’s Methods. That martyrdom in the path of truth is happiness, and steadfastness in the face of challenges is worship, and projects of good and reform must be crowned with success, survival, and emulation.
So be, O sons of Hussein and his lovers, crowds, and armies, loyal to this Husseini caravan that has been traveling for 1400 years on the path of righteousness and reform, and be the absolute best successor to the absolute best predecessor, and continue to carry the trust, responsibility, and sacrifice until victory is achieved by the appearance of his victorious grandson, Our Imam the awaited Al-Mahdi, may Allah Almighty hasten his honorable reappearance.
O Husseini Iraqis, raise the banners of justice and moderation and gather, as is your honoring history, around this Mohammedan, Alawi Hussainiya tent, to be together, in solidarity, love, cooperating, fraternal, understanding, and harmonious, to unite our intentions, thoughts, and will, and we derive from Allah the determination and will in adversities and victory in challenges for us to reach, together, the achievements and victories.
The Husseini rites are not for the Shiites alone, for here they are our Sunni brothers and our loved ones from other religions. Hasting to conduct them, worship and respect, side by side to express their solidarity, freedom, consciousness, their beliefs in the concepts of Ashura and the Hussaini humanitarian immortal revolution.
We see in these humanitarian Islamic rituals and occasions, a great national opportunity to reunite the ranks, dispel challenges and inconveniences, and participate in promising and benevolent projects and ideas, for the benefit of our country and our beloved homeland.
- Our Iraq must remain the center of moderation and the fulcrum in the Islamic world and a beacon for this coexistence, understanding, and brotherhood.
In our country, there is no room for sectarianism, fanaticism, and racism. We are Iraqis and we are all Husayni, and the people of Iraq are the people of peace, civilization, and moderation.
Our symbols, our leaders, our references, our scholars, and our martyrs are our testament of that, our solidarity testifies for us, as we were, are, and will be for eternity.
I say it honestly, our country has been subjected during our modern history to the worst and most heinous internal and external agendas and schemes to dismantle societal cohesion and divide the country geographically, ethnically and doctrinal. Yet our people emerged from all those calamities, tribulations, and tests with heads held high, victorious, triumphant, and confident.
- Our Iraq is the tent of Hussein that unites all identities, trends, and spectra. Our land is the land of values, principles, and sacrifices, and our Iraqi identity was, is, and will remain independent, united, and genuine, and our wills must be combined, harmonious and cooperative, to advance our reality and present and preserve our future from past experiences and its harsh lessons.
Dearly beloved: The world is changing, the region is changing, and the conditions are now suitable to bring about positive change in our Iraq.
Together, let us renew ideas, discourse, methods, and tools, and create, without exception, a new atmosphere for a new renaissance, a fresh state, and a promising and prosperous future.
We have chosen our path since the first day of political work. We chose a path paved with the blood of Al-Mujahideen and the sacrificed leaders to save Iraq and its people, from the dictatorship of tyranny, the absurdity of terrorism, and the chaos of corruption. We are still on this path and will not deviate from it.
We praised no one. We did not compromise for the sake of truth and the interests of the Iraqis. We confronted the people closest to us when we found in them misjudgment and poor management. Neither courtesy nor truce. Rather, upfronting, treatment, and prowess.
Since the events of October 2019, we had a clear position, and we said back then, that the political scene in Iraq is suffering from a serious blockage, and that we urgently need an effective change that the Iraqi street can touch with its various categories. therefore, the government of Mr. Al-Kazemi was formed to perform two main tasks, namely restoring the prestige of the state, and holding early elections in a safe and fair environment that enables all Iraqis to choose who will represent them in a capable government and a strong state.
Today, we affirm that any negligence regarding these two tasks, foremost of which is the task of holding early elections, whatever may be the concerns, the consequences will be dire. The ballot box is the only peaceful solution in carrying out the desired change and reform. Any negligence will expose the security of Iraqis, and set the future of the state to the unknown, and put us in front of dark prospects, Allah forbid.
- I call on all the national Iraqi powers, which announced their withdrawal from the elections (at the forefront is dear brother His Eminence, Sayyid Muqtada Al-Sadr, and the National Youth and civil parties and powers) to reconsider the decision to withdraw and return to active participation in the elections.
- The blood that was shed in the arenas of the popular movement and protest against poor services and unemployment. Doesn’t deserve the underestimating and using it as a pretext for political blackmail and private gains. This pure blood that shed from our youth as they shouted and cried to demand their most basic rights. Those patriotic voices wanted a strong state and a capable government that preserves their dignity, as the previous electoral representation did not achieve this for them. Therefore, they demanded that early elections be held to hold the negligent accountable through the ballot boxes. The early elections became a popular demand and they must be held on time. Only then, everyone in the political field will know their true size and bear the responsibility for failure and negligence. And then the people choose someone who represents their aspirations and achieves their future that befits Iraq and the Iraqis.
Do not close the doors of peaceful change to your people. patience has limits. and he who asks for his rights will earn it even after time.
The political system in Iraq is still subjected to obstacles and hinders that have restricted its growth and development. The most prominent of these obstacles is political corruption represented in wasting opportunities and wasting positive constructive energy.
We are not helpless. And we are not so poor in men, determination, and the will to build. There are millions of loyal and competent men and women in the land of Mesopotamia, and what we suffer from is the lack of courage of responsibility in taking the decision and seeing it to the end.
We need persistence and determination in implementing the national will… I say this honestly and clearly
The state cannot be built without accountability and punishment of those who target the prestige of the state and the rule of law.
A capable government cannot be formed without free and fair elections.
Services cannot be achieved without holding the negligent and the unsuccessful accountable and blocking their path.
The dignity and security of citizens cannot be preserved without arresting criminals and murderers in broad daylight.
It is not possible to operate factories, flourishing agriculture, and revive the economy without prosecuting the corrupt and public money stealers.
What we suffer from is hesitation, lack of decision-making, and responsibility.
While emphasizing the inevitability and importance of elections, it must be recalled that:
There are periodic meetings of the presidency.
There are continuous meetings of the leaders of the political blocs.
There are daily meetings of important and sensitive matters in the country.
Everyone is calling for reform and change.
Where is the defect you may wonder? Why is it slow when decision-making? Why is there no firmness in implementation and follow-up?
All because there is no specific party to hold the responsibility. and everyone is trying to evade responsibility for failure or mishaps.
If this political system continues in its consensual language! Generalizing failure! and not specifying the party responsible! it will inevitably collapse…
I warn of its collapse if there are no serious and responsible treatments. I have informed you, may Allah be my witness
Al-Hikma National Movement, through its electoral alliance, (the National State Powers Alliance) bears a great national responsibility in facing the obstacles of the political system and working to develop it. Yet here, I call for important and main points:
First: The Independent High Electoral Commission is making a great effort to conduct early elections, which deserves all our appreciation, pride, and support, must announce the election results within 24 hours of the end of the general voting process. The results announcement must be as transparent and fair with no foul nor suspicion
Second: Whatever the results may be, the formation of the next government must be expedited. The responsibility of forming the government must be assumed by an electoral alliance that takes upon itself the responsibility of implementing the government program within clear periods that are reviewed at the end of each year.
Third: There must be two movements in support of the state; One of them is the government’s movement, which starts from the first day of forming the government. The second of which is the opposition movement, which takes upon itself the evaluation of the government through the methods and mechanisms of democracy within the law. It is not possible for everyone to participate to abide by accounting standards. For there are those who bear the responsibility for implementation, and there are those who bear the responsibility of evaluation.
Fourth: We urgently need a new social and political contract by making constitutional amendments in line with the current Iraqi reality. There are serious discussions about the nature of the appropriate system for Iraq, and whether it is presidential or parliamentary. There are also calls for direct elections for the governors and the Baghdad secretariat, and the reduction of parliament seats, and other important constitutional articles that are still suspended and ineffective.
Fifth: We must end the controversy of accusing our security institutions, most notably the Popular Mobilization Forces, and criminalizing anyone who infringes the prestige of the state and those who possess uncontrolled arms, and to stop accusing loyal members of all types of our armed forces.
Sixth: We do not want only paper-based government programs. We want real actions and service priorities that are set with time frames. Health, electricity, education, employment of the unemployed, agriculture, industry and investments, are the most prominent files that must be focused on in the next phase.
Seventh: It is not possible to make our foreign policy without full coordination with our domestic policy. We do not want regional relations only for courtesy and taking pictures. We want relations based on the priorities of our interests. There are outstanding regional files, most notably water, borders, and targeting sovereignty. We need Effective diplomatic mechanisms and bold political decisions.
- The time has come for us to be a fully sovereign country, with lands free of foreign forces, primarily the American military forces, despite our appreciation for the international efforts that stood with Iraq in its war against the forces of terrorism and darkness.
We also believe that the steps taken by Al-Kazemi’s government towards achieving this goal were confident and successful, and they need popular and political support to complete and consolidate them.
The efforts of the Iraqi government in restoring Iraq’s relations with its surroundings, region, and the world are appreciated efforts, which made Iraq an arena for regional and international understandings, agreements, and dialogues, and not an arena for destructive conflicts and intersections. We were, and still support this direction and will seek to keep Iraq a key factor in bridging the interests of the region and the world.
We also renew our previous calls for the brothers in the neighboring countries, and the forefront (Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt) and other countries in the region, to sit at a serious dialogue table in the service of the interests of our peoples in their present and future.
We are facing an important and decisive phase in Iraq's modern history. Either we are facing a strong country and a bold government capable of achieving the aspirations of Iraqis... Or we are facing an unknown future that exposes us all to real dangers.
Therefore, we will not allow the future of our children to be exposed to the unknown. We will remain loyal to our project and our covenant with our people. Our hope is great for the faithful in this country. And on Allah let the trustees rely on.
Greetings to the righteous martyrs of Iraq, the martyrs of our armed forces, our popular mobilization and the martyred leaders, and a salute to our great references, especially the supreme authority, Imam Al-Sistani (May Allah Bless Him with Life to lead us), and everyone who offered and sacrificed for the sake of the country. Greetings to the two Martyrs of Al-Sadr and the Ambassador of the supreme religious reference and the Martyr of the Altar (Shaheed Al-Mihrab) and Aziz Al-Iraq.
