As protests have swept across Iran over the past two weeks, Kurdish groups have played a key role in them.
The major Kurdish parties that exist in the Islamic Republic have put out statements unifying their positions against the regime and supporting the protests.
There are several Kurdish opposition groups in Iran. Although they have different political ideologies and backgrounds, they agree on the necessity of opposing oppression.
Over the last several days, reports have indicated that hundreds of people have been killed in the Iranian protests. This came after a week and a half during which the regime appeared cautious in its approach, waiting to see whether the demonstrations would grow or gradually weaken.
As the protests have shown, they have staying power; the regime has responded in the way it always does – by massacring people indiscriminately.
As the protests have shown, they have staying power; the regime has responded in the way it always does – by massacring people indiscriminately.
For instance, the Kurdistan Region of Iran is often subjected to extreme oppression and killings. This makes many minority groups wary of participating in demonstrations and also means they generally have extensive networks of opposition. This is true among Kurds, Arabs, Baloch, and others.
The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, also known as the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran or PDKI, put out a statement on Sunday, January 11.
In it, it noted that one of their representatives in Norway, Amir Babakhani, said, “The goal is to see the regime in Iran fall. Our aim is to have a democratic country – one with freedom, where we can live together in a true democracy.”
The PDKI has also welcomed statements in Europe and elsewhere condemning the crackdown on the protests. On Thursday, January 8, the group posted a message highlighting the unity of various Kurdish parties in Iran.
The Dialogue Center for Cooperation among the Parties of Iranian Kurdistan (Eastern Kurdistan) released a statement thanking the people of Kurdistan and freedom-seekers throughout Iran.
“Through strikes and continued protests, they delivered a clear, forceful political message to repressive forces and the ruling regime,” the statement said.
“The Dialogue Center for Cooperation emphasizes that the freedom-loving people of Kurdistan demonstrated their renewed trust in their political parties through a general strike, the closure of markets and shops, and the expression of discontent across all cities,” the post said.
It added that it wished to affirm that “the brave, freedom-loving people of Kurdistan have demonstrated that threats, intimidation, and repressive policies will not weaken their determination. Through unity and solidarity, the people and political parties of Kurdistan have sent a clear message that their freedom-seeking movement has entered a new phase.”
The Kurdistan Freedom Party
The Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) has been very active in fighting the Iranian regime. This group gained extensive experience battling ISIS in Iraq. The PAK sent forces to fight ISIS in 2014, and their units served on many of the toughest front lines alongside the Kurdish Peshmerga in northern Iraq.
As such, the PAK has a tight-knit group of fighters. Their armed units, which they call the Kurdistan National Army (SMK), put out a statement on Sunday noting that “in retaliation to false IRGC claims, SMK carried out successful operations in Isfahan and Kermanshah.”
The statement described several operations in Iran. Previous posts by the PAK have shown images they claimed come from their operations targeting Iranian regime elements. A Saturday, January 10 post said that aspects of the SMK killed six IRGC members.
Maintaining relatively good relations with Kurdish parties that govern the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, the PDKI is a historic Kurdish party in Iran. As for the PAK, it is a nationalist and centrist group. In contrast, the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) is a far-left group that has historical connections with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The PKK has recently said it is laying down its arms and disbanding its insurgency in Turkey. However, the PJAK remains a force in the Kurdistan Region of Iran.
On Sunday, this group condemned the Iranian government’s crackdown on the protests: “PJAK condemns killings in Iran as crimes against humanity.”
It went on to say that “PJAK’s co-presidency affirmed that protests against the Islamic Republic continue across Iran. They accuse state forces of using light and heavy weapons against civilians in multiple cities and regions, including Tehran, Isfahan, Khorasan, Lorestan, and parts of Kurdistan.”
“Authorities have cut Internet and telephone services to prevent information from reaching the outside world and to facilitate further repression,” the PJAK said, adding that it is “calling on international institutions to take immediate action and [is urging] the global public and Iranians abroad to speak out and support the protesters.”
Ending on an optimistic note, the statement read, “The ongoing demonstrations, led predominantly by youth and women, will ultimately lead to freedom and democratic change in Iran.”
The role of the Kurdish parties in Iran is important in the context of the protests. However, it remains to be seen if the demonstrators can challenge the regime or if Tehran will be able to weather the storm once again.