Iraqi Writers Union announces death of former head Najih al-Mamouri

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Writers Union on Wednesday announced the death of prominent researcher and former union head Najih al-Mamouri, who died at age 81 after a long illness, calling his passing a major loss to Iraq’s cultural scene.

In a statement, the union said it “mourns the great researcher Najih al-Mamouri, who passed away today, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, in his city of Hilla, after suffering from illness.”

The union said al-Mamouri left behind “a large legacy of authored works, books and cultural contributions” spanning narrative literature, criticism, mythology and religions. “His departure represents a great loss for the cultural community,” the statement said.

It said al-Mamouri maintained a strong presence in fields of knowledge throughout his career and played an important role during his tenure as head of the Iraqi Writers Union, where he led what it described as key professional achievements.

“Mercy to his pure soul, condolences to his family and loved ones, and our deepest sympathy,” the union said.

Al-Mamouri was regarded as a leading figure in literary and mythological studies in Iraq. His body of work includes dozens of titles published over more than five decades, beginning with “A Song in a Narrow Depth: Najaf Stories” in 1969 and extending to “Violence of the Sacred (In Iraqi Myths)” published in 2021.

His novels include “The River” (1978), “East of the Dam: East of Basra” (1984) and “City of the Sea” (1986), all issued by the Ministry of Culture. His research and critical works examined mythology, ancient Mesopotamian heritage, the Torah, religion and symbolism in Iraqi, Arab and Kurdish literature and art.

Among his best-known studies are “Moses and the Myths of the East” (2001), “The Myth and the Torah” (2002), “The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Torah” (2009), “The Mythological Origins of the Torah’s Joseph Story” (2012) and “The Torah and the Rituals of Sacred Sex” (2016). He also authored extensive readings of contemporary poetry, fiction and visual art in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.