Basra: The journalistic community and cultural and literary circles in Basra mourned the passing of pioneering journalist and poet Abdul Razzaq Hussein, who died last night after a distinguished career spanning decades in the fields of journalism and literature.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the late Abdul Razzaq Hussein was born in Basra in 1935 and is considered one of the first generation of journalists in the province. He began his journalistic career in the late 1940s as an editor for several Basra newspapers of the time, most notably Al-Thaghr newspaper, where he edited and supervised its pages.

He published more than twenty poetry collections, in addition to numerous books and publications in short stories, journalism, and other literary fields, leaving a clear mark on the Basra cultural and literary scene. Abdul Razzaq Hussein was a founding member of the Basra branch of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate and was elected to its first administrative board, headed by the late Kamil Al-Abayji.

He also contributed to the training and development of generations of Basra journalists, passing on his extensive experience in journalism, ensuring his name remains etched in the memory of Basra’s press and culture. With his passing, Basra lost one of its pioneering journalists and writers who contributed to establishing and consolidating its journalistic and cultural movement.