Brief Historical Background

DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF IRANIAN KURDISTAN

Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) also refered to as (KDP, KDPI or DPIK) was founded in Mahabad, Iran, on August 16, 1945. PDKI replaced the " Komalay Ziyanaway Kurd " (Council of Kurdish Resurrection) which had been formed three years earlier. Just 159 days after its foundation in January 22, 1946, the Party, availing itself of expedient circumstances in a section of Iranian Kurdistan, established the " Republic of Kurdistan ", usually referred to by historians as the " Republic of Mahabad ", the reason being its choice of Mahabad as the capital.


The " Republic of Mahabad " lasted not more than 11 months. Following a pact signed by the Iranian central government and the ex-Soviet Union, the Iranian army launched a vast offensive into the region, destroying the " Republic " December 17, 1946. The " Republic " having collapsed, a great number of PDKI leaders were imprisoned, of whom 20 people including Ghazi Mohammad, head of the Party and president of the Republic, M. Hossein Seyfi-Ghazi, minister of Defence, and Abulghassem Sadri-Ghazi, a member of the Iranian Parliament from Mahabad, were hanged in the capital of the Republic, and the others in Saqez and Buckan.


In less than two years after the collapse of the Republic, PDKI started its political and organizational activities anew, striking roots in most parts of Iranian Kurdistan, which was due mainly to the Kurdish people's desire to join the struggle aimed at fulfilling the Party's aspirations and reviving the honour of the Republic of Kurdistan.


Following the collapse of Dr. Mossadegh's government in 1953, when democratic rights and freedoms of the peoples throughout Iran were suppressed, PDKI's activities came almost to a standstill. A great number of Party activists were either imprisoned or went underground, though they resumed their activities after a very short time.


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 hiding away or fleeing Iran. Nevertheless, not having sunk into despair, the Party embarked on the task of reviving its organization. Its activities picked up such a speed that in 1967-68, a large number of its members and high-ranking cadres started an armed insurrection - lasting 18 months - against the Shah's regime, a glorious deed, which struck horror into the ruling circles. But as this armed movement lacked a safe rear zone, the Shah's regime managed somehow to crush it.


The Kurdish people in Iranian Kurdistan and PDKI played an active part in the Iranian people's uprising against the Shah's dictatorship. A group of PDKI 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.


The uprising of the Iranian peoples having succeeded, PDKI declared its public activities 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 took no account of the responsible efforts made by PDKI. Instead, following the " fatwa " issued by ayatollah Khomeini against the Kurdish people, the Iranian armed forces ruthlessly embarked on a widespread offensive against the Kurdish population, shelling and bombing villages and towns of Kurdistan. PDKI had to resort to armed resistance, a valiant deed that, despite all ebbs and flows, has been going on till today.


On 13 July 1989, Dr. Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou, Secretary-general of PDKI, and two of his aides, were assassinated in Vienna (Austria) as they were negotiating with the terrorist-diplomats of the Iranian regime, at the latter's invitation, appraently for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue in Iran, however with the  intention of killing the Kurdish sides on the negotiating table (also see life and death of Dr. A. Rahman Ghassemlou). Dr. Ghassemlou's successor, Dr. Sadegh Sharafkandi met with the same fate on 17 September 1992 in Berlin where he had attended the Congress of the Socialist International. They all were victims of Iranian State terrorism(Also see Life and Death of Dr. Sadegh Sharafkandi).


PDKI has held Fourteen congresses. The 1st congress was convened in 1945, the 2nd in 1964, the 3rd in 1971, the 4th in 1980, the 5th in 1982, the 6th in 1984, the 7th in 1985, the 8th in 1988, the 9th in 1992, the 10th in 1995, the 11th in 1997,the 12th in 2000, the 13th in July 2004, and the latest Congress was held in September 2008.


During the 20th Congress of the Socialist International held in the UN headquarters in New York (9-11 September 1996), PDKI was given the status of observer member. In 2008, PDKI's membership was elevated to consultive status.
The highest body of PDKI 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.

The current secretary-general of the Party is Mr. Mustafa Hejri and the deputy secretary-general is Mr. Hasan Sharafi. 


Main principles:


-PDKI believes in the peaceful resolution of the just Kurdish cause through constructive dialogue, and remains faithful to this civilized principle.
-PDKI utilizes all forms of struggle that are compatible with Party's political and ideological roots as well as international norms to realize its national objectives.
-PDKI considers the oppressed nations of Iran and other democratic forces as its strategic ally and stresses on the intertwining relationship and co-struggle of the Iranian nations.
-PDKI is committed to its independence stance, and refrains from meddling in the affairs of other forces and stresses on the mutual respect and cooperation.
-PDKI is committed to the respects of all human rights and finds itself to be on the front of progressive forces and against terrorism.
-PDKI welcomes the democratization process on the basis that only a federal democratic system can guarantee the full rights of the deprived nations of Iran including the Kurdish nation.

PDKI fights for:

-A federal democratic and independent Iran
-The right of the peoples of Iran to self-determination
-Realization of worker's social and economic demands
-Equality of men and women in society and within the family
-Separation of religion and State

revised: October 31, 2008