HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Iraqis observed the martyrdom anniversary of great Islamic thinker Ayatullah Sayyed Muhammad Baqir As-Sadr and his knowledgeable sister Aminah As-Sadr (Bint-ol Hodaa) who were brutally martyred at the hands of despot Saddam regime.

The anniversary coincided with the ouster of dictator Saddam by the United States.

Hundreds of thousands took to the streets to mark the occasion, while seminars, conferences and majalis al-azaa were also held.

Ministers Council had announced public holiday across the country on Monday April 9.

At Al-husseiniyah Al-Fatimiyah Al-Kobraa, Bayt-ol Qarar organized it second annual conference in connection with the two events.

Sheikh Malek Shibani opened with recitation of Quran the conference titled “dictator’s fall day is Iraq’s freedom day”. Sheikh Ali An-Najafi read the message of Ayatullah Hafez Sheikh Bashir An-Najafi in which he paid rich tributes to late Ayatullah Baqir As-Sadr and Bint-ol Hodaa. A student of late Ayatullah and Friday prayer leaders in Saydeiyah mosque Baghdad Al-Allamah Sayyed Yassin Al-Moosawi, secretary general of Bayt-ol Qarar Zohayr, Kurdish democratic party representative Sayyed Sabah Aqrawi, Dr Taufiq Al-Yasseri, chief of Holy Najaf council Sayyed Abdul Hussein Al-Moosawi, and deputies council member Dr Jinan Al-Abeedi addressed. Poets Muhammad Zaer and Ma’an At-Tarihi recited Qasaed highlighting the status of Iraqi martyrs including Ayatullah As-Sadr and his sister Bint-ol Hodaa.

The communiqué of the conference demanded from the government immediate rebuilding of destructed holy Samarra shrine.

Ayatullah Muhammad Baqir As-Sadr was born in Kazemain (Iraq) on Ziqa'adah 25, 1353 A.H. He belonged to a religious family which has been the cradle of Islamic learning for about a century by now.

From his very childhood he showed signs of extra-ordinary intelligence and aptitude for learning. When he was only 10 years he spoke on doctrinal matters and Islamic History with such confidence as if he had spent decades mastering these subjects. When he was 11 years old he wrote a book on logic and also began delivering lectures on this subject.

In 1365 A.H, he was settled in Najaf (Iraq) at the age of 12 years and began studying as well as teaching the principles of Islamic Jurisprudence and other branches of Islamic learning. He possessed such an extra-ordinary acumen that he could fully comprehend the lessons of the level of his own studies without the help of his teacher. Eventually he was elevated to the position of 'Ijtihad' (jurisprudent) and also began writing books. He has written 26 books on various subjects. Some of these books have been translated into Persian, English, Urdu and Turkish. including: Fundamental of Jurisprudence, Jurisprudence, Economics, Philosophy, Inductive Logic, Social Problems and Public administration.

On April 9, 1980, Muhammad Baqir As-Sadr was martyred. His sister and comrade in action “Amina Sadr (Bint-ol Hodaa)” was also martyred with her brother. She was a political activist, advocate of women rights in Islam and single handedly recruited hundreds of women into fold of Islam. She was prolific novelist, and political speaker that mobilized masses to struggle against tyranny.

Their bodies were buried in holy Najaf, beside Imam Ali (a.s.)’s shrine.