Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran
Encyclopedia
The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan , abbreviated as PDKI, KDPI, PDK-I, is a Kurdish
political party in Iranian Kurdistan
which seeks the attainment of Kurdish
national rights within a democratic
federal republic
of Iran
.
, Kurdistan
, on August 16, 1945. The PDKI replaced the Komeley Jiyanewey Kurd (Council of Kurdish Resurrection) which had been formed three years earlier. On January 22, 1946, the Party availed itself of expedient circumstances in a section of Iranian Kurdistan
and established the Republic of Kurdistan, usually referred to by historians as the Republic of Mahabad
, because of its choice of Mahabad
as the capital.
The Republic of Mahabad
lasted no more than 11 months. Following a pact signed by the Iran
ian central government and the Soviet Union
(which supported the PDK-I and the secession
of the Kurdistan province from Iran), the Iran
ian army launched a vast offensive into the region, destroying the Republic by December 17, 1946. The Republic having collapsed, a great number of PDK-I leaders were imprisoned, of whom 20 people including Qazi Muhammad
(Ghazi Mohammad or Qazî Mihemmed), head of the Party and president of the Republic, M. Hossein Seyfi-Ghazi, minister of Defence, and Abulghassem Sadri-Ghazi, a member of the Iran
ian Parliament from Mahabad
, were hanged in the capital of the Republic, and the others executed in Saqez and Bukan
.
Less than two years after the collapse of the Republic, the PDK-I started its political and organizational activities anew, taking root in some parts of Iranian Kurdistan
.
Following the collapse of Dr. Mossadegh's government in 1953, when democratic rights and freedoms of the people throughout Iran
were suppressed, the PDK-I's activities came almost to a standstill. A great number of Party activists were either imprisoned or briefly forced underground.
Two widespread police raids against the Party in 1959 and 1964 dealt heavy blows to its organization: some 300 Party activists were imprisoned, with an even greater number having to go into hiding or flee Iran
. However, the basis of the movement survived, since it revived and reformed its organization. Its activities picked up such momentum that in 1967, a large number of its members and high-ranking cadres started an armed insurrection – lasting 18 months – against the Shah's regime. The insurrection failed, due to the lack of a safe rear zone.
The Kurds
in Iranian Kurdistan
and the PDKI played an active part in the Iranian people's uprising against the Shah's dictatorship
. A group of PDK-I leaders, who were living in exile either in neighbouring countries or in Europe
, returned to Iran
before the collapse of the monarchy, actively participating in the uprising of the Kurdish people
and assuming the status of leadership in the movement.
Upon the success of the Iranian people's uprising, the PDK-I declared its public agenda in a meeting held in Mahabad
, which was attended by representatives from all parts of Iranian Kurdistan
. Despite the Party's sincere endeavours to settle its differences over the democratic rights and freedoms of the Kurdish people
peacefully with the newly established regime in Tehran
, the rulers in Tehran
refused to compromise.
On 13 July 1989, Dr. Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou
, Secretary-general
of the PDK-I, and two of his colleagues, were assassinated in Vienna
, Austria
as they were negotiating with envoys of the Iranian regime, at the latter's invitation, for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish
issue in Iran
. Dr. Ghassemlou
's successor, Dr. Sadeq Sharafkandi, was also assassinated on 17 September 1992 in Berlin
, where he had attended the Congress of the Socialist International
.
, Fattah Abdoli, Homayoun Ardalan and their translator Nouri Dehkordi were assassinated at the Mykonos Greek restaurant in Berlin
, Germany
. In the Mykonos trial, the courts found Kazem Darabi, an Iran
ian national who worked as a grocer in Berlin, and Lebanese
Abbas Rhayel, guilty of murder and sentenced them to life in prison. Two other Lebanese, Youssef Amin and Mohamed Atris, were convicted of being accessories to murder. In its 10 April 1997 ruling, the court issued an international arrest warrant for Iranian intelligence minister Hojjat al-Islam Ali Fallahian
after declaring that the assassination had been ordered by him with knowledge of supreme leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
and president Ayatollah Rafsanjani
During the 20th Congress of the Socialist International
, held in the UN headquarters in New York
(9–11 September 1996), the PDK-I was given the status of observer member. In 2005, the PDK-I's membership was elevated to consultative status.
The highest body of the PDK-I is its Central Committee, which is usually composed of 21 permanent and 10 substitute members. The Central Committee also elects about 7 of its members as the Political Bureau, which also includes the Secretary-General.
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
political party in Iranian Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan is an unofficial name for the parts of Iran inhabited by Kurds and has borders with Iraq and Turkey. It includes Kurdistan Province, Kermanshah Province, Ilam Province and parts of West Azerbaijan province....
which seeks the attainment of Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
national rights within a democratic
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
federal republic
Federal republic
A federal republic is a federation of states with a republican form of government. A federation is the central government. The states in a federation also maintain the federation...
of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Historical background
The "Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan" (PDKI) was founded in MahabadMahabad
-Culture:Muhammad Qazi translated more than 70 important literary works into Persian. Other writers and poets have hailed from Mahabad in the 19th and 20th century including Wafaei , Hejar , Hêmin , Abdorrahamn Zabihi and Giw Mukriyani...
, Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan is an unofficial name for the parts of Iran inhabited by Kurds and has borders with Iraq and Turkey. It includes Kurdistan Province, Kermanshah Province, Ilam Province and parts of West Azerbaijan province....
, on August 16, 1945. The PDKI replaced the Komeley Jiyanewey Kurd (Council of Kurdish Resurrection) which had been formed three years earlier. On January 22, 1946, the Party availed itself of expedient circumstances in a section of Iranian Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan is an unofficial name for the parts of Iran inhabited by Kurds and has borders with Iraq and Turkey. It includes Kurdistan Province, Kermanshah Province, Ilam Province and parts of West Azerbaijan province....
and established the Republic of Kurdistan, usually referred to by historians as the Republic of Mahabad
Republic of Mahabad
The Republic of Mahabad , officially known as Republic of Kurdistan and established in Iranian Kurdistan, was a short-lived, Kurdish government that sought Kurdish autonomy within the limits of the Iranian state. The capital was the city of Mahabad in northwestern Iran...
, because of its choice of Mahabad
Mahabad
-Culture:Muhammad Qazi translated more than 70 important literary works into Persian. Other writers and poets have hailed from Mahabad in the 19th and 20th century including Wafaei , Hejar , Hêmin , Abdorrahamn Zabihi and Giw Mukriyani...
as the capital.
The Republic of Mahabad
Republic of Mahabad
The Republic of Mahabad , officially known as Republic of Kurdistan and established in Iranian Kurdistan, was a short-lived, Kurdish government that sought Kurdish autonomy within the limits of the Iranian state. The capital was the city of Mahabad in northwestern Iran...
lasted no more than 11 months. Following a pact signed by the Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian central government and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
(which supported the PDK-I and the secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
of the Kurdistan province from Iran), the Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian army launched a vast offensive into the region, destroying the Republic by December 17, 1946. The Republic having collapsed, a great number of PDK-I leaders were imprisoned, of whom 20 people including Qazi Muhammad
Qazi Muhammad
Qazi Muhammad was a nationalist and religious Kurdish leader and the Head of the Republic of Kurdistan, the second modern Kurdish state in the Middle East ....
(Ghazi Mohammad or Qazî Mihemmed), head of the Party and president of the Republic, M. Hossein Seyfi-Ghazi, minister of Defence, and Abulghassem Sadri-Ghazi, a member of the Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian Parliament from Mahabad
Mahabad
-Culture:Muhammad Qazi translated more than 70 important literary works into Persian. Other writers and poets have hailed from Mahabad in the 19th and 20th century including Wafaei , Hejar , Hêmin , Abdorrahamn Zabihi and Giw Mukriyani...
, were hanged in the capital of the Republic, and the others executed in Saqez and Bukan
Bukan
Bukan is a city in and the capital of Bukan County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 149,340, in 32,488 families....
.
Less than two years after the collapse of the Republic, the PDK-I started its political and organizational activities anew, taking root in some parts of Iranian Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan is an unofficial name for the parts of Iran inhabited by Kurds and has borders with Iraq and Turkey. It includes Kurdistan Province, Kermanshah Province, Ilam Province and parts of West Azerbaijan province....
.
Following the collapse of Dr. Mossadegh's government in 1953, when democratic rights and freedoms of the people throughout Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
were suppressed, the PDK-I's activities came almost to a standstill. A great number of Party activists were either imprisoned or briefly forced underground.
Two widespread police raids against the Party in 1959 and 1964 dealt heavy blows to its organization: some 300 Party activists were imprisoned, with an even greater number having to go into hiding or flee Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. However, the basis of the movement survived, since it revived and reformed its organization. Its activities picked up such momentum that in 1967, a large number of its members and high-ranking cadres started an armed insurrection – lasting 18 months – against the Shah's regime. The insurrection failed, due to the lack of a safe rear zone.
The Kurds
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
in Iranian Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan is an unofficial name for the parts of Iran inhabited by Kurds and has borders with Iraq and Turkey. It includes Kurdistan Province, Kermanshah Province, Ilam Province and parts of West Azerbaijan province....
and the PDKI played an active part in the Iranian people's uprising against the Shah's dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
. A group of PDK-I leaders, who were living in exile either in neighbouring countries or in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, returned to Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
before the collapse of the monarchy, actively participating in the uprising of the Kurdish people
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
and assuming the status of leadership in the movement.
Upon the success of the Iranian people's uprising, the PDK-I declared its public agenda in a meeting held in Mahabad
Mahabad
-Culture:Muhammad Qazi translated more than 70 important literary works into Persian. Other writers and poets have hailed from Mahabad in the 19th and 20th century including Wafaei , Hejar , Hêmin , Abdorrahamn Zabihi and Giw Mukriyani...
, which was attended by representatives from all parts of Iranian Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan is an unofficial name for the parts of Iran inhabited by Kurds and has borders with Iraq and Turkey. It includes Kurdistan Province, Kermanshah Province, Ilam Province and parts of West Azerbaijan province....
. Despite the Party's sincere endeavours to settle its differences over the democratic rights and freedoms of the Kurdish people
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
peacefully with the newly established regime in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, the rulers in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
refused to compromise.
On 13 July 1989, Dr. Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou
Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou
Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou was a Kurdish political leader.Ghassemlou was the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran from 1973 to 1989, when he was assassinated by perpetrators thought to be agents of the Islamic...
, Secretary-general
Secretary-General
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
of the PDK-I, and two of his colleagues, were assassinated in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
as they were negotiating with envoys of the Iranian regime, at the latter's invitation, for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
issue in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Dr. Ghassemlou
Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou
Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou was a Kurdish political leader.Ghassemlou was the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran from 1973 to 1989, when he was assassinated by perpetrators thought to be agents of the Islamic...
's successor, Dr. Sadeq Sharafkandi, was also assassinated on 17 September 1992 in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, where he had attended the Congress of the Socialist International
Socialist International
The Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
.
Mykonos Restaurant Assassinations
Dr. Sadeq Sharafkandi's killing became an international incident between Germany & Iran. On September 17, 1992, Iranian-Kurdish insurgent leaders Sadegh SharafkandiSadegh Sharafkandi
Sadegh Sharafkandi was a Kurdish political activist and the Secretary-General of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran ....
, Fattah Abdoli, Homayoun Ardalan and their translator Nouri Dehkordi were assassinated at the Mykonos Greek restaurant in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In the Mykonos trial, the courts found Kazem Darabi, an Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian national who worked as a grocer in Berlin, and Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
Abbas Rhayel, guilty of murder and sentenced them to life in prison. Two other Lebanese, Youssef Amin and Mohamed Atris, were convicted of being accessories to murder. In its 10 April 1997 ruling, the court issued an international arrest warrant for Iranian intelligence minister Hojjat al-Islam Ali Fallahian
Ali Fallahian
Hojatoleslam Ali Fallahian, is an Iranian politician and cleric. He has served as a member of the 3rd Assembly of Experts of the IRI and as the Minister of Intelligence of Islamic Republic of Iran in cabinet of President Hashemi Rafsanjani...
after declaring that the assassination had been ordered by him with knowledge of supreme leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Ali Khamenei
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Hoseyni Khāmene’i is the Supreme Leader of Iran and the figurative head of the Muslim conservative establishment in Iran and Twelver Shi'a marja...
and president Ayatollah Rafsanjani
PDK-I Congresses
The PDK-I has held fourteen congresses. These occurred in 1945, 1964, 1971, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2004 and September 2008.During the 20th Congress of the Socialist International
Socialist International
The Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
, held in the UN headquarters in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(9–11 September 1996), the PDK-I was given the status of observer member. In 2005, the PDK-I's membership was elevated to consultative status.
The highest body of the PDK-I is its Central Committee, which is usually composed of 21 permanent and 10 substitute members. The Central Committee also elects about 7 of its members as the Political Bureau, which also includes the Secretary-General.
Secretary Generals
- Qazi MuhammadQazi MuhammadQazi Muhammad was a nationalist and religious Kurdish leader and the Head of the Republic of Kurdistan, the second modern Kurdish state in the Middle East ....
(1945–1947) - Abdul Rahman GhassemlouAbdul Rahman GhassemlouAbdul Rahman Ghassemlou was a Kurdish political leader.Ghassemlou was the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran from 1973 to 1989, when he was assassinated by perpetrators thought to be agents of the Islamic...
(1973–1989) - Sadegh SharafkandiSadegh SharafkandiSadegh Sharafkandi was a Kurdish political activist and the Secretary-General of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran ....
(1989–1992)
Main Principles
- The PDKI rejects all acts of terrorismTerrorismTerrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
. - The PDKI's long-term objective is to establish a socialist democratic society.
- The PDKI supports the fight of peoples of the world for their freedom and against oppressive and reactionary regimes. It supports peace and friendship between the peoples of all countries.
- The PDKI supports the national struggle of Kurds in other parts of Kurdistan.
The PDKI Fights For
- A democratic, independent and federal IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
- The right of the peoples of IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
to self-determination - The realization of workers' social and economic demands
- The equality of men and women in society and within the family
- The separation of religion and State