In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Dear friends, our esteemed staff at the Institute, and our beloved students,
Today marks the ninth of April, a day that holds profound connotations and great meanings in the history of our modern Iraq. It is the day that a dark, bloody page in our history is turned: the page of the criminal Ba’athist regime and the dictatorship of the tyrannical and aggressive Saddam Hussein. It is the day that the era of killing, terrorism, and international wars that have burdened this nation and broken the hearts of its sons and bereaved mothers ends.
On this day, we recall with appreciation and reverence that historic moment when the dawn of a new Iraq dawned: an Iraq governed by democracy and an electoral system; an Iraq whose government is composed of all segments of the people and their authentic components; an Iraq that enjoys elected governments, constitutional rights, and institutions that ensure the protection of these gains, for which our people have paid the greatest sacrifices. April 9th is not merely the anniversary of the fall of a regime; it is a reminder of the beginning of a new era: an era of peaceful transfer of power, an era of respect for human rights and the rule of law, an era of building strong institutions that serve citizens and guarantee them a dignified and secure life.
On this occasion, we can only remember, with bleeding hearts and tearful eyes, the souls of Iraq’s righteous martyrs, the martyrs of the mass graves who disappeared into the prisons of injustice. Foremost among them is the towering figure who always illuminated the paths of truth and justice: the blessed martyr, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr, and his pure, Alawite sister, Bint al-Huda. Their murder at the hands of the deceased tyrant heralded the fall of the state of injustice on this day. Their sacrifices and pure blood paved the way for this new dawn.
On this blessed day, we draw inspiration from the sacrifices of our great martyrs, the resolve and determination to move forward in building a prosperous and unified Iraq, an Iraq governed by security, peace, justice, and equality. An Iraq worthy of the sacrifices of its sons and their aspirations for a better future. May the memory of April 9th be an incentive for us all to work hard and sincerely for the advancement, progress, and prosperity of our homeland. Let us always remember that national unity is the safety valve for a bright future.
May mercy and eternity be upon the righteous martyrs of Iraq.
Dean of the Najaf Technical Institute
Professor Dr. Haider Hassan Al-Abdali
