President Barzani on 49th Anniversary: 'Gulan Revolution Affirmed Our Unbreakable Will'
"The Gulan Revolution affirmed to all that the will to struggle and resist for the freedom of Kurdistan will never be broken and must continue," President Barzani stated.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — President Masoud Barzani has marked the 49th anniversary of the Gulan Revolution with a powerful message of remembrance and tribute, describing it as a defining chapter in the Kurdish people’s enduring struggle for freedom and dignity.
In a statement issued on Monday, President Barzani praised the Gulan Revolution as “one of the most significant milestones in the resistance and struggle of the people of Kurdistan,” and described it as a direct extension of the goals and message of the historic September Revolution.
“The Gulan Revolution is one of the most important milestones in the ongoing resistance and struggle of the people of Kurdistan. It carries forward the message and objectives of the Great September Revolution,” President Barzani said. “In the difficult circumstances following the collapse of the revolution, amidst displacement and under various forms of pressure from the enemies, the people of Kurdistan managed—through a detailed organizational and military plan and with strong will—to launch the Gulan Revolution.”
President Barzani emphasized that the revolution was born from adversity, forged in a time when Kurdish society was enduring immense suffering, and carried out with great coordination and determination. “Our people made heavy sacrifices,” he stated. “Many heroic Peshmerga gave their lives for Kurdistan. A large segment of our society endured displacement, exhaustion, and deprivation.”
He added that the revolution sent a clear and enduring message: “The will to struggle and resist for the freedom of Kurdistan will never be broken and must continue.”
Reflecting on the historical importance of the revolution, President Barzani paid special tribute to the first martyr of the Gulan Revolution. “On the 49th anniversary of the Gulan Revolution, we salute the soul of the first martyr of the revolution, Martyr Sayid Abdullah Haji Omarani, and all the martyrs of Kurdistan.”
President Barzani concluded his message with deep appreciation for all who took part in the revolution. “I express my deep respect and appreciation to all the fighters, Peshmerga, and patriots who played a role in the revolution and inscribed pride in our people's history.”
The Gulan Revolution, launched in May 1976, followed the collapse of the September Revolution the previous year, and marked a renewal of organized Kurdish resistance against the Ba’athist regime. It has since been remembered as a pivotal act of resilience and national defiance, anchoring the modern legacy of Kurdish self-determination.
President Barzani’s message this year serves not only as a commemoration, but also as a reaffirmation of the Kurdish people’s enduring will to resist oppression and strive for freedom in the face of hardship and betrayal.
President Barzani’s Message on the 49th Anniversary of the Gulan Revolution
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The Gulan Revolution is one of the most important milestones in the ongoing resistance and struggle of the people of Kurdistan. It carries forward the message and objectives of the Great September Revolution. In the difficult circumstances following the collapse of the revolution, amid displacement and under various forms of pressure from the enemies, the people of Kurdistan managed—through a detailed organizational and military plan and with strong will—to launch the Gulan Revolution.
In the Gulan Revolution, our people made heavy sacrifices. Many heroic Peshmerga gave their lives for Kurdistan. A large segment of our society endured displacement, exhaustion, and deprivation. The Gulan Revolutionaffirmed to all that the will to struggle and resist for the freedom of Kurdistan will never be broken and must continue.
On the 49th anniversary of the Gulan Revolution, we salute the soul of the first martyr of the revolution, Martyr Sayid Abdullah Haji Omarani, and all the martyrs of Kurdistan. I also express my deep respect and appreciation to all the fighters, Peshmerga, and patriots who played a role in the revolution and inscribed pride in our people's history.
Masoud Barzani
May 26, 2025
