Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan
| Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan Hîzbî Dêmokiratî Kurdistanî Êran حیزبی دێمۆکراتی کوردستانی ئێران |
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| Founded | August 16, 1945 |
| Ideology | Kurdish nationalism, Social democracy, Democratic socialism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| International affiliation | Socialist International UNPO |
| Website | |
| www.pdki.org | |
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The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (Kurdish: Partî Dêmokiratî Kurdistanî Êran), abbreviated as PDKI, KDPI, PDKI, is a Kurdish political party in Iranian Kurdistan which seeks the attainment of Kurdish national rights within a democratic federal republic of Iran.
Historical background
PDKI (also known as KDPI, KDP-I and DPIK) was founded in Mahabad, Western Azarbaijan, Iran, on August 16, 1945. Just 159 days after its foundation, on January 22, 1946, the party, availing itself of expedient circumstances in a section of Iranian Kurdistan (a Soviet occupation that had began in 1941), established the Republic of Kurdistan, also referred to by historians as the Republic of Mahabad after its capital, under Soviet patronage. The Republic of Mahabad lasted not more than 11 months; following a pact signed by the Iranian government and the Soviet Union, the Iranian army launched a vast offensive into the region, destroying the "Republic" on December 17, 1946. The "Republic" having collapsed, a great number of PDKI leaders were imprisoned, of whom about 20 people including Ghazi Mohammad, head of the party and president of the short-lived republic were executed. The Kurdish people in Iranian Kurdistan and PDKI played an active part in the Iranian people's uprising against the Shah's dictatorship. The uprising of the Iranian peoples having succeeded, PDKI declared its overt activities in 1979 in a public meeting held in Mahabad. The highest body of PDKI is its Central Committee elected in PDKI's Congress. The Central Committee also elects an executive body best known as the Political Bureau, which also includes the General Secretary. The Central Committee also elects the party's General Secretary. The General Secretary is currently Mustafa Hijri and he remains in this position till the next party convention which will be held in 2012.
Mykonos Restaurant Assassinations
Dr. Sadeq Sharafkandi's killing became an international incident between Germany and Iran. On September 17, 1992, Iranian-Kurdish insurgent leaders Sadegh Sharafkandi, Fattah Abdoli, Homayoun Ardalan and their translator Nouri Dehkordi were assassinated at the Mykonos Greek restaurant in Berlin, Germany. In the Mykonos trial, the courts found Kazem Darabi, an Iranian national who worked as a grocer in Berlin, and Lebanese Abbas Rhayel, guilty of murder and sentenced them to life in prison. Two other Lebanese, Youssef Amin and Mohamed Atris, were convicted of being accessories to murder. In its 10 April 1997 ruling, the court issued an international arrest warrant for Iranian intelligence minister Hojjat al-Islam Ali Fallahian[1] after declaring that the assassination had been ordered by him with knowledge of supreme leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and president Ayatollah Rafsanjani.[2]
PDKI Congresses
The PDKI has held fourteen congresses. These occurred in 1945, 1964, 1971, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2004 and September 2008.
During the 20th Congress of the Socialist International, held in the UN headquarters in New York (9–11 September 1996), the PDKI was given the status of observer member. In 2005, the PDKI's membership was elevated to consultative status.
The highest body of the 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.
Secretary Generals
- Qazi Muhammad (1945–1947)
- Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou (1973–1989)
- Sadegh Sharafkandi (1989–1992)
Main Principles
-PDKI struggles to safeguard Iran’s independence, and establish a democratic government in Iran to obtain the rights of the Kurdish people in Iranian Kurdistan to self-determination -“The attainment of Kurdish national rights within a democratic federal republic of Iran” is PDKI’s strategic objective -PDKI rejects all acts of terrorism -PDKI believes in the separation of state and religion -PDKI adheres to all the international human rights and humanitarian law, including but not limited to, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
PDKI has political presence in Europe, North America and Australia where PDKI chapters and representatives are in regular contact with government officials, NGOs and humanitarian organizations. PDKI is a consultive member of the Socialist International (SI). The SI is the worldwide organisation of social democratic, socialist and labour parties. It currently brings together 162 political parties and organisations from all continents. PDKI is also a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO). UNPO is an international, nonviolent, and democratic membership organisation. Its members are indigenous peoples, minorities, and unrecognised or occupied territories who have joined together to protect and promote their human and cultural rights, to preserve their environments, and to find nonviolent solutions to conflicts which affect them. PDKI, is also a founding member of Congress of Nationalities for federal Iran (CNFI). CNFI believes that a federalist system of government in Iran on the basis of nationality and geography is the only political mechanism that is enduring, and allows all Iranian nationalities to realize their aspirations and exercise self-rule in the framework of a free, united and democratic Iran. CNFI has currently 17 constituent member organizations of all nationalities including Turks, Kurds, Baluchis, Arabs, Turkmens. PDKI is also a signatory to the Geneva Call, an impartial humanitarian organization founded in 2000 and dedicated to engaging of non-state actors towards compliance with laws of war and norms, consistent with common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions. Committed to its principles of non-violence, democracy, freedom and self-determination, PDKI has been declared a banned Party in Iran by the regime of Islamic Republic of Iran; therefore, PDKI’s headquarters, leadership and cadres are currently stationed in Iraqi Kurdistan. The International Relations Bureau of the Party is located in France (Paris); the foreign relations representatives are in regular contact with political and diplomatic cores.
References
- ^ Melman, Yossi (2008-04-02). "Israel fails to prevent Germany freeing Iranian". Haaretz.com. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ Hakakian, Roya (2007-10-04). "The End of the Dispensable Iranian". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
