4/4 Kurds in Iran: Political Resistance, Armed Groups, and the Fight for Autonomy

By Martin Aslan

There is a Kurdish province in Iran, with Sanandaj as its capital, but it does not cover the whole of the historic region of the Iranian Kurdistan, who includes West Azerbaijan, Kermanshah, Ilam, and Hamedan provinces. They are also home to Kurdish populations.

Political parties and armed groups

The “Kurdistan Free Life Party” (PJAK) is a Kurdish political and militant organization that is operating primarily in the Kurdish-majority areas of Iran. Founded in 2004, it is a revolutionary movement that advocates for Kurdish autonomy, human rights, and Democratic Confederalism, the ideology inspired by Abdullah Öcalan. PJAK is a member of the KCK.

The “Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran” (KDP-Iran) is a Kurdish political and militant organization exiled in the KRI, dedicated to Kurds rights and seeking greater autonomy for Kurdish-majority regions in Iran. Founded in 1945 in the Mahabad Republic, the KDPI is one of the oldest Kurdish political parties in the region, with a strong legacy of resistance to the Iranian government.

The “Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan” is a Kurdish political party founded in 1969 and exiled in the KRI. It has been a significant force of the Kurdish nationalist movement, advocating for Kurdish rights, autonomy, and self-determination in Iran. The party has a history of resistance against the Iranian government, particularly regarding the political and cultural repression of Kurds.

The “Kurdistan Freedom Party” (PAK) is a Kurdish political party founded in 1991 that operated primarily in Iran, and now exiled in the KRI. It’s focusing on advocating for Kurdish rights and autonomy, specifically in the Kurdish-majority regions of western Iran.

All these organizations, while having different founding dates and ideologies, are sharing the common goal of Kurdish self-determination and autonomy in Iran. This shared vision has often led to collaboration and alliances, despite their inner differences.

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