Commemoration for Victims of Iran’s “Holy War” Against Kurdistan

Representatives of all Kurdish political parties and organizations from eastern (Iranian) Kurdistan organized a commemoration event in Hawler (Erbil), the capital of southern (Iraqi) Kurdistan, for the victims of Iran’s “holy war” against the Kurdish people. On August 18, 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, declared jihad or “holy war” against the Kurdish people in eastern Kurdistan. Iranian forces massacred tens of thousands of Kurdish civilians.

Khomeini declared jihad against Kurdistan in response to the Kurdish people’s demands for democracy and self-rule. Following this declaration of “holy” war, the post-revolutionary Islamist regime deployed hundreds of thousands of troops, including the newly formed Islamic Revolutionary Guards and their execution squads, to Kurdistan.

The Peshmerga Forces of PDKI and other Kurdish organizations, as well as civilians, fought bravely against the Iranian forces. Unfortunately the Peshmerga Forces could not prevent the Iranian forces from killing tens of thousands of Kurdish civilians.

Similar to the terrorist organization ISIS, Iranian forces beheaded women, elderly and children in order to create fear and break the will of the Kurdish people.

Although Islamist organizations have declared “holy” war against the West in recent decades, it was the Islamic Republic of Iran that waged the first war of this kind against Kurdistan in modern history.

The people of Kurdistan and Kurdish organizations commemorate the victims of this religiously justified war on August 18. But this date has also become a symbol for Kurdish resistance against Iranian aggression. It is also a symbol of the relentless Kurdish struggle for national liberation and democracy.

This year, representatives of all Kurdish political parties and organizations from eastern Kurdistan gathered in Hawler to commemorate the victims of Iran’s “holy war” against the Kurdish people, but also to reaffirm their commitment to the struggle for national liberation and democracy.

Hassan Sharafi, deputy leader of PDKI, held a speech during the event in which he said that August 18 has a double meaning for the people of Kurdistan.

“August 18 marks a black day in our history because it was on this date Khomeini made an evil declaration of war and issued an unjust fatwa of Jihad against the Kurdish people,” Sharafi said.

“But it also signifies a bright day, since we responded [to Khomeini’s declaration of jihad] through resistance, which continues to this date,” he averred.

Mr. Sharafi also called on the Kurdish people in all parts of Kurdistan to support the independence referendum in southern Kurdistan and that it should be “viewed it as a matter of highest national interest.”