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Wishing all Iraqi lawyers a happy Lawyer's Day.

But lawyers do not need a day to be celebrated as much as they need a reality in which they are respected.

It is unfair that those who defend people’s rights should have to stand for hours outside the doors of government offices, that they should sometimes be treated as mere visitors, and that their role should be restricted in institutions where justice cannot be upheld without their presence, only for us to settle for words of praise on their special day.

It is unfair for a young lawyer to enter a profession with such a rich history, only to face its early stages alone, without adequate institutional professional training, without real financial security, and without an environment that preserves his dignity and gives him a fair chance to build his reputation and his future.

We are not asking for lawyers to be above the law; rather, we are demanding a professional right within the law.

We do not want a door opened for them as a courtesy; rather, we want a system that does not allow that door to be shut in their faces.

We do not want a mere symbolic status; rather, we want genuine recognition that lawyers are partners in justice, not mere subordinates on its margins.

When we talk about reforming the profession, we are not talking about slogans; rather, we are talking about a stronger Bar Association, broader professional representation, meaningful training, protection of the lawyer’s dignity, an electronic system that recognizes their professional status, and legislation that makes their presence an integral part of the justice system, not a burden on it.

The most beautiful tribute to a lawyer is not a rose on his day, but dignity upheld throughout the year.

And the sincerest celebration of him is not a speech, but a reality befitting his mission.

To my fellow lawyers across Iraq:

May you continue to be the voice of truth when it grows faint, and the support of those who find themselves with nowhere else to turn,

and may lawyers enjoy greater dignity, the profession grow stronger, and the Bar Association come closer to being what its members deserve.