Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan

 
 

 

Current Situation in Iranian Kurdistan

With the appointment of Ahmadi Nejad to become the president of Iran, the ultra conservatives enjoy full control of all the levers of power in the country, resulting in increased oppression of the population.

To eradicate the influence of, what is known portrait by the conservatives in Iran as, the “contamination by corrupt western culture” a series of oppressive measures have been introduced by Ahmadi Nejad’s gang in power. 

These oppressive and restrictive measures by Ahmadi Nejad, both in domestic and international policies, in reality are attempts to cover up his inability to fulfil all the promises he gave during the so called presidential election to reduce unemployment, stifle corruption, and bring about equality etc…. In the other hand he also wants to satisfy the fundamentalist section of the Islamic Republic.

In short all the morality and ideological measures internally and the anti-American and anti-Israeli postures internationally, in my opinion are for internal consumptions. The internal measures adopted include putting a ban on all films and publications which deals with subjects such as Liberalism, Feminism, and Secularism. In the opinion of the new government debating these subjects is serving the “propaganda of the world oppressor" which in their vocabulary means United State of America.    

The reason for all these restrictions and oppressions are apparently to build a society based on “the values of Koran”. As the result, pressure on women to obey the Islamic dress code has increased.  The Morality Police are continually patrolling the streets to force the women to wear head scarf. Access to internet sites are also heavily restricted by placing filter on sites that the government do not see as being suitable for the population. All these violation of human rights are to force people to abandon little freedom they have gained through their struggle in resent years.

Along with general suppression of the population the struggle by the national minorities for their national rights within the framework of a democratic Iran is brutally suppressed. July and August of this year were particularly harsh times for the people in Kurdistan of Iran. Following brutal murder of a Kurdish activist “

(Showana Qaderi) under torture by the security force, and dragging of his corpse tied to the back of a car through the street of the city of Mahabad the people of the city took to the streets in protest. This was soon followed by peaceful demonstrations in other Kurdish cities and towns.

The Islamic Republic government instead of taking note of peoples grievances which was expressed in a peaceful manner they unleashed the security forces to brutalise the demonstrators. This overwhelming use of force by the regime resulted in 20 death and hundreds injured in various cities of Kurdistan. Hundreds of peoples have also been arrested, of which some have been sentenced to long prison terms, some are still awaiting their trial and some were also released on bail.  

The brutal suppression by the regime has reached all layers of the society including intellectuals, journalists, students, workers, teachers and even human right activists. Some other examples of recent violation of human right by the Islamic Republic regime are as follows:

 

·        Closure of three Kurdish language publications ( Ashti, Aso, Payame mardome Kurdistan) and arresting the editor and their  journalists accusing them of  publishing separatist articles. Their real crime was publishing the news of the demonstrations in cities of Kurdistan and exposing the brutality of regime in dealing with these demonstrations.

·        Closure of few cultural centres and five internet service providers in the town of Marivan accusing them of immoral activities.

·        Closure of the Department of Kurdish studies in the University of Kurdistan in Sanandaj. Resulting in the students who have chosen Kurdish language as a subject to be threatened with expulsion.

·        Systematic detention of Kurdish youth throughout Kurdistan accusing them of “immoral behaviour “without specifying what that means.

·        Accusing 25 Kurdish teachers of being disrespectful towards Islamic culture for wearing “T shirt” and shaving their moustaches. These teachers were dismissed from their posts. It is worth mentioning that since appointment of Ahmadi Nejad shaving moustache  and wearing a T shirt are considered to be validations of Islamic values

·        Preventing organising of weddings and other celebrations which are attended by mixed sex audiences.

However it is important to point out that during the presidency of Khatami, despite his numerous promises for freedom, rule of low and civil society the situation in Kurdistan has not improved. He was not able to fulfil none of the just demands of the Kurdish people in Iran.

This was a brief explanation of the current situation in Iran in general and Kurdistan in particular. I do not conceder it necessary to discuss the Iranian regim’s nuclear policy or Ahmadi Nejad’s threat regarding Israel or Iran’s active role in destabilising Iraq as I am sure you are all aware of them.

In conclusion I would like to add that the Kurdish people in Iranian Kurdistan will continue with their just struggle for a democratic government in Iran which shall recognise the just demands of Kurdish people for their national and human rights. The history has proven that the regimes, particularly the dictatorial ones will topple, but the nations will survive.

Khosrow Abdollahi

Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (PDKI)

London November 2005

 
 

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