With broad official and public participation—including the representative of the Supreme Religious Authority and the Secretary-General of the Imam Hussain Holy Shrine—the Second “Difa’ Al-Kifaee” Festival was inaugurated in the Holy Courtyard of the Imam Hussain Shrine in Karbala, Iraq. The event welcomed a distinguished gathering of local and international figures.

Held under the slogan: “He (Grand Ayatollah Sistani) gave a fatwa; We responded; We were victorious,” the festival commemorates the historic Sufficient Defense Fatwa issued by His Eminence, the Supreme Religious Authority, Sayyed Ali Al-Hussaini Al-Sistani (may Allah bless him). This decisive fatwa played a critical role in mobilizing the Iraqi people to confront the terrorist threat that endangered the nation.

The opening ceremony drew participants from various segments of society, along with representatives of religious, cultural, political, and academic institutions from both Iraq and abroad.

The event featured multiple segments that reflected themes of sacrifice, devotion, and victory, underscoring the importance of preserving and documenting this defining chapter in Iraq’s contemporary history. The program honored the brave individuals who responded to the call of the Supreme Religious Authority, sacrificing their lives in defense of the homeland and its sacred sites.

Ali Fadhel