A Digest of Events in the Kurdistan Regions of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.
Iran
Iranian authorities have intensified their crackdown on the Kurdish community throughout Rojhelat, resulting in numerous arrests, harsh prison sentences, and severe restrictions on basic rights and due process.
In Bukan, multiple individuals have faced prison terms for alleged political offenses. Hazhar Soltani received a six-month sentence for “propaganda against the state” after being arrested without a warrant. Ahmad Hassanzadeh, whose son was killed during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests, was sentenced to three months on similar charges. Additionally,the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights reported that Susan Hasan-zadeh, a female activist and volunteer Kurdish language instructor, began serving a three-month prison term in Urmia Central Prison for “propaganda against the state.”
Piranshahr has also seen a string of convictions. Kurdish man Ayub Damavandi was handed five years and fifteen days for “espionage for Israel.” Another resident, Rahman Qaderi, received an eight-month sentence for “propaganda against the state.” Furthermore, two Piranshahr men, Salam Soltani and Amir Feqeh, were sentenced to five years each for allegedly collaborating with the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI). Both were arrested in May 2024, denied legal counsel, and have another pending case in Mahabad Revolutionary Court.
In Saqqez and Kamyaran, four Kurdish teachers—two in each city—were arrested within a few weeks of each other. While Abdollah Karim Golan of Saqqez was later released on bail, the other three remain in custody without clear charges. The arrests of Kurdish educators are not confined to these cities; in Divandareh, four teachers were dismissed and one exiled. They had previously faced imprisonment and suspended sentences for alleged security-related offenses tied to Party of Free Life (PJAK) membership, stemming from violent raids in 2022.
Elsewhere, Kurdish activist and language instructor Idris Menbari from Sanandaj (Senna) was sentenced to two years for forming groups deemed disruptive to national security. In Evin Prison, Kurdish activist Varisheh Moradi remains behind bars, denied family and legal visits for more than seven months. She faces a death sentence on “rebellion” charges, endured torture, and undertook a hunger strike protesting the regime’s use of capital punishment.
In Abdanan, Ilam Province, Kurdish psychiatrist and writer Naser Hemmati stands accused of “blasphemy against the Prophet” and “propaganda supporting the Zionist state.” Previously imprisoned for “insulting Khamenei” and “propaganda against the state,” Hemmati’s continuing legal troubles persist despite his lack of recent social media activity.
Separately, following the fall of the Assad dictatorship in Syria, Iranian Kurdish parties issued statements congratulating the Syrian people and expressing hope for the eventual collapse of Iran’s Islamic Republic. They emphasized that, despite facing immense hardships, the Kurdish people of Syria have secured meaningful gains that must be protected. The parties urged Kurdish political forces in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) to remain unified, confront future challenges strategically, and build on their hard-won progress.
Iraq
The Kurdistan Region Presidency has issued a statement following the toppling of the Assad regime in Syria, urging all parties to engage in dialogue toward a peaceful resolution that ensures justice, equality, and inclusive participation for all communities, including Kurds. It reaffirms the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to regional harmony, international cooperation, and preventing further conflict. The presidency also calls on the global community and neighboring countries to help secure a stable, democratic future for Syria.
Separately, despite several signed agreements between Baghdad and Erbil regarding the salaries of Kurdistan’s employees, public servants have yet to receive their salaries for October through December. According to Rudaw, Iraq’s Ministry of Finance has transferred 430 billion dinars into the Kurdistan Region’s treasury account to cover employee salaries for these months. Combined with the previously received 760 billion dinars, the Ministry of Finance now has sufficient funds to distribute salaries for October.
On Monday, December 9, 2024, Wissan Saad Qasim, the General Director of Budget at Iraq’s Ministry of Finance and Economy, issued an official letter to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), granting approval to transfer and utilize the 430 billion dinars allocated to the region.
The letter stated that the funds were transferred under Section Nine, Article One, and Category Seven, which covers standard retirement pensions and pensions for the families of martyrs, amounting to a total of 430 billion dinars.
At the same time, Kurdistan’s oil exports remain halted despite agreements between Baghdad, Erbil, and foreign oil companies, further exacerbating financial losses for both Iraq and Kurdistan.
Syria
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken is in Ankara to engage with Turkish officials on “counterterrorism” and “regional stability”. His visit also focuses on developments in Syria, where the U.S. recently reaffirmed its full support for a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned political transition and emphasized the protection of “religious and ethnic minorities.” However, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, said the U.S. was abandoning the Kurds and stated that its strategy is enabling the resurgence of ISIS (Da’esh).
On Friday, December 13, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. During the discussion, Blinken called on “all actors in Syria to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Syrians, including members of minority groups, and to prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism.”
When Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—designated a terrorist organization by the U.S.—launched a campaign to overthrow the Damascus regime, Turkey and its radical Syrian proxies simultaneously escalated their attacks against the Syrian Kurds. Employing drones and artillery, they targeted multiple fronts, resulting in the deaths of dozens, including women and children.
In the occupied Afrin region, Turkish-backed groups killed two Yazidi Kurdish civilians returning to their homes, continuing a pattern of violence since the 2018 Afrin invasion. Under heavy bombardment, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were forced to withdraw from several key locations, including the strategic town of Manbij. Turkish-backed groups carried out mass executions of wounded SDF fighters in the city.
Turkish drones further aided attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure, including the Tishreen Dam, which powers the region, leading to electricity shortages in Kobani and surrounding areas. Although the fighting has since become intermittent, a U.S. general recently visited the region and brokered a fragile agreement, limiting Turkish-backed factions from continuing their assaults.
The Syrian Kurdish leadership has expressed willingness to participate in Damascus’s efforts to form a new government. However, Turkey remains the primary obstacle to Kurdish involvement in the process.
Turkey
The Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM Party) released a statement on December 9, 2024, denouncing the Turkish government’s actions in Syria, accusing it of deepening chaos and undermining efforts for peace. The party criticized the government’s focus on dismantling Kurdish rights and targeting the Administration of North and East Syria, which they described as a model of coexistence.
Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan, speaking during a parliamentary session on the 2025 budget proposal, echoed similar concerns. He called on the Turkish government to end its aggressive policies towards the Kurds, warning that such actions undermine both regional stability and Turkey’s own peace prospects. Bakırhan urged the government to engage in dialogue with the Administration of North and East Syria and to adopt policies that foster cooperation rather than hostility.
The DEM Party also appealed to the international community, particularly the United Nations, to take an active role in ensuring peace in Syria. They emphasized the need for a democratic transition, protection of minority rights, and the safe return of displaced populations.
Meanwhile, Turkish intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın visited Damascus on December 12 for talks with Syrian rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and caretaker Prime Minister Mohammad al-Bashir, Reuters reported.The visit marked the first by a senior foreign official to Damascus since the fall of the Assad regime.