Remarks by Mustafa Hijri —Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDP-I)
Washington Kurdish Institute
By: Kathryn Lynn
June 28, 2018
On a recent visit to the Washington Kurdish Institute (WKI), Mustafa Hijri, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDP-I) spoke about his party’s history, its goals, and the current situation for Kurds in Iran.
Hijri on the History of KDP-I
Although an Iranian Kurdistan party, the leadership of KDP-I is located in the Iraqi Kurdistan city of Sulaymaniyah, though the main part of the organization is in Iran. (Mustafa Hijri has already survived several assassination attempts.) Since its founding in 1948, the KDP-I has been struggling for democracy and human rights in Iranian Kurdistan. Under two different dictatorial regimes that had no tolerance for different political parties or pluralism, KDP-I was declared illegal by both regimes and the party dissolved. After the revolution in 1979, the KDP-I tried to negotiate for peace and Kurdish rights with the new government, which for a time, gave lip-service to the Kurdish cause while the military, disintegrated since the revolution, rebuilt itself. Once the army had re-formed, crackdowns and attacks on Kurds returned and the first round of negotiations crumbled.
During the second round of negotiations in Vienna in 1989, then-Secretary General of KDP-I, Dr. Ghassemolu, was assassinated at the negotiating table by Iranian diplomats, effectively ending discussion for a peaceful solution for the Iranian Kurdish question.
Still, the KDP-I persists, pursing their goal of fundamental rights both by civil means and as an armed struggle if necessary. The Islamic Republic of Iran has yet to accept Kurdish identity and rights, and attempts to thwart attempts at progress both at home and abroad.
Hijri on Iranian regional anti-Kurdish and destabilizing policies
Iran’s anti-Kurdish policies are not confined within its own borders. For example, Iran facilitated the October 16th incursion into Kirkuk, when Kurds lost a lot of land to the Iraqi government. If Kurds achieve something good, Iran plots to reverse those achievements.
Along with the Kurds, Iran is also against general stability in the Middle East, using religion as their instrument. The Islamic Republic of Iran sees itself as the representative of God on earth and believe of majority-Muslim countries in the region should adopt an Iran’s version of Islam, and plots against Islamic views that are different from the Iranian interpretation using Iranian-backed Shiite groups to destabilize the region. One can see Iran’s hand in Lebanon with Hezbollah, in Shiite areas of Saudi Arabia, in Bahrain, Yemen, and in Iraq with Hash’d al-Sha’abi, or PMU (Popular Mobilization Forces.) This is not a covert policy for Iran, it is promoted and touted as “Exporting the Revolution,” which serves the dual purpose of promoting their version of Islam and keeping the region unstable.
Hijri on the goals of the KDP-I
The KDP-I wants to keep Iran unstable, and use instability in the regime to create a space for Kurds and other opposition groups to push for democracy, human rights, even regime change.
The KDP-I’s objective is establishing a democratic and federal Iran, inclusive of all nationalities, ensuring that everyone participates and shares political power, having central and local governments. To this end, the KDP-I initiated an alliance of different nationalities within Iran, united in opposition to the regime. The umbrella organization, “Congress of Nationalities for a Federal Iran,” has 13 member organizations representing minority groups in Iran like Kurds, Baluchis, Turks, Azeris, and Arabs. KDP-I also created a center of cooperation for Kurdish political parties, which has five members. As for Kurds in other countries, the KDP-I fully supports them but will not intervene in their internal affairs, for example, they supported Iraqi Kurds when they held their referendum, and respected the results. That is a pillar of KDP-I policy.
Hirji on KDP-I’s message to the U.S. and the world
The U.S. and KDP-I have a shared experience with the Islamic republic: both entered into negotiations, both faced the regime, both challenged it, both have tried to change its behavior, and both have also failed. The U.S. should learn from Syria, which, in the United States’ absence, became a breeding ground for terrorism and American rivals, allowing both Russia and Iran to gain influence there. Do not let the same thing happen in Iran. Kurds and other nationalities in Iran are in favour of the U.S. and its allies and interests in the Middle East. A U.S. policy of Iranian containment, including sanctions, would give KDP-I and other opposition more space to act, and will limit Iran’s ability to oppress Kurds.
Returning sanctions, resulting from the U.S.’s withdrawal from the JCPOA will not affect Kurds negatively, just as the sanctions relief of the previous two years did not positively affect them. The financial resources from the sanctions relief –and Iran being able to sell its oil—were used to strengthen Iran’s influence outside the country, not helping its own people within. Purchasing power for the people went even further down as a result of sanctions relief as things grew increasingly more expensive.
Public discontent has reached unprecedented heights in recent days; people are shouting for regime change in street demonstrations. Many are striking within Iran: truckers, taxi drivers, teachers, Kurds. There have been mass demonstrations in various cities throughout Iran.
While KDP-I does not expect or want a U.S. military invasion of Iran to liberate the Kurds, it urges the western world to support the Iranian people in their quest for regime change. Keep the pressure on the regime, keep it in check and as weak as possible so that it cannot interfere in other parts of the Middle East, and so the Iranian people can decide their own future.