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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 |