The festival was organized by the Faculty of Science at the University of Kufa in cooperation with the Al-Wafi Foundation affiliated with the Al-Abbas Holy Shrine, with participation from the Imam al-Hussain Holy Shrine, the Al-Askari Shrine, as well as the Political Prisoners Foundation and the Martyrs Foundation. The event was held in an atmosphere marked by broad academic and cultural attendance.
Shaikh Salam al-Nasiri, head of the Alawi Center for Research and Islamic Studies, stated in an interview with the Shrine’s News Center:
“This participation reflects the continued role of the Imam Ali Holy Shrine in preserving historical truth.”
He added:
“Strengthening historical memory serves as a safeguard for society, preventing the recurrence of tragedies and fostering the values of justice and awareness among the youth.”
He further emphasized that the shrine is committed to active engagement in academic and cultural forums, given their importance in shaping collective awareness and connecting generations with their authentic history through modern documentation tools that combine knowledge presentation with visual impact.
He continued:
“The exhibition includes documents from the era of the Ba‘ath regime, revealing various forms of torture and abuse inflicted upon the people under pretexts such as visiting holy shrines, religious adherence, or even making remarks about the ruling authority—acts that often led to execution. It also displays instruments of torture used in institutions such as the Olympic Committee, along with images of scientific and religious figures who were imprisoned or executed by the former regime.”
The participation of the Imam Ali Holy Shrine in this festival comes within its ongoing efforts to document national memory, promote social awareness, and strengthen national identity across generations.
The five-day festival aims to highlight the suffering and human rights violations endured by the Iraqi people under the former regime and extremist groups.
