{"id":7262,"date":"2026-03-15T21:39:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-15T21:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/?p=7262"},"modified":"2026-03-15T21:39:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T21:39:08","slug":"the-democratic-womens-union-of-iranian-kurdistan-marks-80-years-of-struggle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/the-democratic-womens-union-of-iranian-kurdistan-marks-80-years-of-struggle\/","title":{"rendered":"The Democratic Women\u2019s Union of Iranian Kurdistan Marks 80 Years of Struggle"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-teams=\"true\">In a statement by the Democratic Women\u2019s Union on the 80th anniversary of its founding, the organization commemorates eight decades of organized women\u2019s activism at the heart of the Kurdish national liberation struggle and calling for intensified mobilization as Kurdistan and Iran approaches a historic turning point.<\/p>\n<p>The Democratic Women\u2019s Union was established in 1946 in the Kurdish city of Mahabad, at a time when few or no such organization existed in the region. From its very inception, the Democratic Women\u2019s Union embedded women\u2019s cause as an inseparable pillar of the Kurdish liberation movement, charging future generations with the duty to never treat women\u2019s rights as secondary to the national cause.<\/p>\n<p>The statement pays solemn tribute to those who gave their lives in that cause. Among the fallen are two of the union\u2019s own Secretary-Generals, \u00a0Nasrin Haddad and Soheila Qadri, martyred when the Iranian regime\u2019s missiles hit PDKI\u2019s headquarters in September 2018. Their deaths stand as a testament to the price Kurdish women have paid for their commitment to freedom. Across eighty years of displacement, exile, and armed struggle, Kurdish women have remained at the forefront.<\/p>\n<p>The Islamic Republic, the statement argues, has now entered a phase of imminent collapse, battered by US and Israeli strikes that have dismantled its military and leadership structures, and shaken from within by mass uprisings in which tens of thousands have been killed. The regime that has for decades been the primary source of repression, discrimination, and misery for Kurdish women and all women of Iran.<\/p>\n<p>The statement issues a clear call: Kurdish women\u2019s organizations must be ready for a new phase of active, united, and focused mobilization. Critically, the statement draws a firm line, the fall of the Islamic Republic must not open the door to another form of dictatorship, and women must not again be pushed to the margins when the foundations of a new political order are laid. The Women\u2019s Union pledges to fight for a federal, democratic Iran, free of religious, national, linguistic, and gender-based discrimination. An future in which women hold their rightful place at the center of decision-making.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a statement by the Democratic Women\u2019s Union on the 80th anniversary of its founding, the organization commemorates eight decades of organized women\u2019s activism at the heart of the Kurdish national liberation struggle and calling for intensified mobilization as Kurdistan [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":7264,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[45,39],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/97222_w920.jpg?fit=920%2C518&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p12yuy-1T8","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5982,"url":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/a-joint-statement-by-three-kurdish-civil-society-organizations\/","url_meta":{"origin":7262,"position":0},"title":"A Joint Statement by Three Kurdish Civil Society Organizations","author":"Ali","date":"March 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"On the occasion of Kurdish New Year, Newroz, the Kurdistan Democratic Student Union, the Democratic Youth Union of Iranian Kurdistan, and the Democratic Women\u2019s Union of Iranian Kurdistan issued a joint statement directed to the Kurdish people in Kurdistan. In their statement, the three civil society organizations extend their congratulations\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest2&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest2","link":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/category\/latest2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/53010.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/53010.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/53010.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/53010.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/53010.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6518,"url":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/message-from-mustafa-hijri-secretary-general-of-the-democratic-party-of-iranian-kurdistan-on-the-occasion-of-march-8\/","url_meta":{"origin":7262,"position":1},"title":"Message from Mustafa Hijri, Secretary-General of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, on the Occasion of March 8","author":"Ali","date":"March 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Mr. Mustafa Hijri, Secretary-General of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, has issued a message for the occasion of 8 March, International Women's Day, as well as the anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Women's Union of Iranian Kurdistan The content of the message is as follows: Congratulations on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest","link":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/category\/latest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/photo-2018-05-13-17-30-40.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/photo-2018-05-13-17-30-40.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/photo-2018-05-13-17-30-40.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/photo-2018-05-13-17-30-40.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/photo-2018-05-13-17-30-40.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6393,"url":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/mustafa-hijris-statement-on-occasion-of-first-anniversary-of-murder-of-jina-amini\/","url_meta":{"origin":7262,"position":2},"title":"Mustafa Hijri\u2019s Statement on Occasion of First Anniversary of Murder of Jina Amini","author":"Ali","date":"September 16, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear compatriots; Dear Fellow Kurdistanies As we are approaching the anniversary of Jina's martyrdom, the resistance of Kurds and other oppressed nations along with other Iranian freedom fighters, against the Islamic Republic, has reached a new peak. While several waves of protests have shaken the foundations of the Islamic Republicin\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest","link":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/category\/latest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/photo-2018-05-13-17-30-40.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/photo-2018-05-13-17-30-40.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/photo-2018-05-13-17-30-40.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/photo-2018-05-13-17-30-40.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/photo-2018-05-13-17-30-40.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6401,"url":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/civil-society-organizations-condemn-the-threats-of-the-iranian-regime\/","url_meta":{"origin":7262,"position":3},"title":"Civil Society Organizations Condemn the Threats of the Iranian Regime","author":"Ali","date":"September 16, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"We strongly condemn the threats of the Iranian regime. Recently, the political and military officials of the Islamic regime of Iran have escalated their threats against the civilians from eastern (Iranian) Kurdistan living in Kurdistan Region (Iraq). In their latest statement, the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, Nasser Kanaani, declared\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest","link":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/category\/latest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Iranian-revolutionary-guards-photo-iranian-media.jpg?fit=450%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6476,"url":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/statement-on-the-35th-anniversary-of-the-assassination-of-dr-a-r-ghassemlou\/","url_meta":{"origin":7262,"position":4},"title":"Statement on the 35th Anniversary of the Assassination of Dr. A. R. Ghassemlou","author":"Ali","date":"July 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"On July 13, 2024, it will be 35 years since terrorist-cum-diplomats from the Islamic Republic of Iran assassinated Dr. Abdulrahman Ghassemlou, the former Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), Abdullah Qaderi Azar, a member of the PDKI Central Committee, and Dr. Fazel Rasoul, a friend of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest","link":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/category\/latest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ghassemlou.jpg?fit=843%2C832&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ghassemlou.jpg?fit=843%2C832&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ghassemlou.jpg?fit=843%2C832&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/ghassemlou.jpg?fit=843%2C832&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5661,"url":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/74th-anniversary-of-the-democratic-party-of-iranian-kurdistan\/","url_meta":{"origin":7262,"position":5},"title":"74th Anniversary of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan","author":"Ali","date":"August 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Today marks the 74th anniversary of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. The 74th anniversary of PDKI was celebrated at one of the party\u2019s bases in Kurdistan. The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) was founded in the city of Mahabad in Iranian Kurdistan on August 16, 1945. Three years\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest","link":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/category\/latest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/PDKI2.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/PDKI2.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/PDKI2.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/PDKI2.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/PDKI2.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7262"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7262"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7262\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7265,"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7262\/revisions\/7265"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}