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KurdistanObserver.com
The Current Role of Eastern Kurdistan
Kamal Artin, President
Kurdish American Education Society, California
Aug. 1st
2005
Depending on the
circumstances, the peak of Kurdish movement has shifted from one to another part
of Kurdistan. Uprisings under the leadership of Malik Mahmood, Mustafa Barzani,
Simko, Ghazi Muhamad, Sheikh Said, and Ocalan are a few examples of such a
shift. The remarkably peaceful movement in Southern (Iraqi) Kurdistan during the
past decade has been much more productive than previous movements; however, it
has stimulated a few other counterproductive uprisings in Eastern (Iranian),
Northern (Turkish), and Western (Syrian) parts of Kurdistan, which have been
brutally suppressed. The purpose of this article is to argue that the recent
uprising in the Eastern part of Kurdistan might also be counterproductive, if it
loses its passive and peaceful character.
After 11 months of the first modern Kurdish self rule, the Republic of Mahabad
was overthrown in 1946 and its leaders hung in public by the Iranian Shah’s
supporters. A new movement came to existence under the leaderships of Kurdish
organizations such as the Democratic Party of Kurdistan-Iran (PDKI) and Komala,
as well as some semi-Kurdish groups and religious personalities such as Sheikh
Ezzadin and Ahmed Muftizdaeh in the 1970s. This movement was also shot down
quickly by religious fundamentalists in the early 1980s. Due to their nobility
or naivety, two prominent PDKI leaders, Ghasemloo and Sharsafkandi, even tried
to negotiate with Iranian government; they both were assassinated on the
negotiation table in Vienna 1988 and in Berlin in 1992 respectively.
Recently Iranians elected a president that allegedly was not only involved in
the assassination of Dr. Ghasemloo but among the hostage takers of Americans.
The outlook of this president symbolizes simplicity and being financially
disadvantaged, which might suggest that he would understand those who have been
discriminated against. However, if the allegations are true, he might be too
dangerous and carry out the mission of some Iranian and Saudi billionaires whose
aspiration is a world power capable of destroying the achievements of our world
civilization. To prevent a disaster, the best action by this revolutionary new
Iranian president would be to make history by turning himself in to an
international court and clarify many ambiguities in the Middle Eastern politics!
Although he carries no turban and robe, the new president is still among the
leaders of an extreme ideology which happens to be Islamic fundamentalism with a
tendency to appreciate death more than life. This ideology seems doubtless and
with absolute certainty accepts only one form of truth, god, and prophecy. The
leaders of such an extreme ideology promise their followers that a good life is
possible only in heaven via martyrdom and by killing of non-believers. Similar
worldviews including colonialism, and extreme forms of Judaism, Christianity,
National-Socialism, and Communism have failed to achieve what Islamic
fundamentalism hopes to achieve. The extremists of any ideology tend to claim
that their religion, class, or kinds are either better or chosen by a higher
power to rescue their own kind or even mankind. No one with a free mind buys
these claims any more! The followers of this current extreme ideology seem to be
too rigid to understand the value of human life as evident by their terrorizing
beheading behavior, suicide bombing, hanging in public, and callous
assassinations.
The story of Shoan Qaderi who was killed, hung from the back of a vehicle, and
driven through the streets of Mahabad recently is a clear example of the culture
of a necrophilic and terrorizing individual or state. What happened to Qaderi
for whatever reason, suggests that Eastern Kurdistan is under the control of
extremists with a very deviant mindset. Clearly, demanding any natural rights in
Iran is a dangerous challenge and might be suppressed very brutally with blood
shed. It is worse than fighting with a stick against a group of living creatures
that are infected with rabies. I am wondering how one could reason with or
neutralize the behavior of such extremists except with a coordinated
international force or with passivity. Since the coordinated international force
is fighting in two other fronts now and being criticized by Chamberlain-like
politicians, only a Ghandi style passive movement seems to be the option for
liberation of Iran in general and Eastern part of Kurdistan in particular.
What is the role of Eastern Kurdistan under current circumstances? Although the
condition might be intolerable for any free mind, I hope the people there remain
passive and patient, educate self and others, protect their Kurdish identity,
use the pen instead of weapons, and focus primarily on promoting the success of
the Southern part of Kurdistan at this stage. In the South, not only did 98% of
the Kurds welcome a free Kurdistan, but many progressive Arabs also have
recognized that both nations should have equal rights. Since Kurds have their
right to read, write, and speak in their own language in public schools and
offices, only in the Southern parts of their lands, this part has a better
chance to reach the ultimate liberation first. Once this part is free, and the
masses of their neighboring ethnic groups recognize that Kurds are no threat to
them, they might welcome the Kurdish hand of friendship and demands for
equality. Let’s hope the masses reach such a developmental level so no dictators
can brainwash them to kill themselves and others in order to end up in heaven.
Let’s hope the fundamentalists recognize that many living individuals and
societies are already in heaven by believing in liberty, justice, equality and
prosperity. Let’s hope for a white, orange, pink, or green revolution but not a
red or bloody one in the Middle East! |
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