Kurdish opposition's unity frightens Iran

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – After two decades of a ceasefire, the leader of a Kurdish opposition announced they are ready to resume their activities against Iran.

Mustafa Hijri, the secretary-general of the Kurdistan Democratic Party-Iran (PDKI) says the party has decided to move its Peshmerga forces into Iranian Kurdistan to connect the guerilla movement with the one in the city.

PDKI insists the move is a “peaceful political struggle” and they mainly want to get closer to their grass root supporters in Kurdish cities and villages.

However, Loghman Ahmedi, head of PDKI’s Foreign Relations, told Kurdistan24 in an email interview that a peaceful solution with the Iranian regime is impossible when it comes to the Kurdish political and cultural demands.

“Therefore, our decision [to start armed resistance] is fundamentally linked to our people's desire to attain freedom from the Islamic regime in Tehran,” Ahmedi added.

Furthermore, he explained that PDKI ordered the redeployment of Peshmerga forces to the Iran-Iraq border in 2015.

Meanwhile, Khalid Azizi, secretary-general of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), a splinter group of the PDKI, downplayed PDK’s move and said they would never be able to combat Iran.

Golala Kamanagr, a Norway-based writer and analyst, told Kurdistan24 that if the Kurdish oppositions unite, they will be a real threat to Iran.

“Iran will panic if PDK and PDKI put their differences aside and fight the common enemy, but the two parties' approaches to solving the Kurdish problem is vastly different, aggravated ever since the February elections in Iran,” Kamanagr said.

She believes, however, that PDKI’s move is calculated, and they have been following careful steps since last year which may mean they have the support of a country.

“Kurds in Rojhalat (Iranian Kurdistan) don’t have a good life—no jobs, no future—therefore, they don’t have much to lose. Strong leadership can move the masses that are already under tremendous economic, social and cultural problems,” she added.

Activists say political parties need to rely on their people rather than external forces for their movements. Iran is also under international pressure for its human rights violation record.