ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurds in western Iran (Rojhelat) have largely welcomed the European Parliament’s recent resolution to include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the European Union’s terror list, saying the designation validates years of hardship Kurds have endured at the hands of the Iranian force, though some are worried the designation could trigger a violent retaliation. Members of the European Parliament last month voted on a non-binding resolution to add the IRGC to the EU terror blacklist “in light of its terrorist activity, the repression of protestors and its supplying of drones to Russia.” A court decision from an EU member state is needed to officially designate the Iranian forces as a terror group. The IRGC and its paramilitary Basij forces led a violent crackdown on nationwide protests sparked by the death of young Kurdish woman Zhina (Mahsa) Amini while in the custody of the morality police last September. At least 527 protesters, including 71 children, have been killed and over 19,500 have been arrested since the protests began, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) on Friday. “As a Kurd, we have always been familiar with the term “terrorist” IRGC,” 37-year-old Karwan* from Bukan told Rudaw English last week. Karwan has been an active participant in the Amini protests since they erupted in September. Three of his friends were wounded in the demonstrations. “I feel like seeing a powerful force with heavy weaponry, money, and capabilities being called a terrorist by an even greater and international power above it, validates my rights as a Kurd and the struggles we endure as a people, which is gratifying,” he said. Karwan said he believes the designation could not only limit the IRGC’s access to weapons and weaken them financially, but it would also have a psychological impact on the forces and shatter their morale. Tara*, a 34-year-old from Sanandaj, was an active protester during the first month of the demonstrations, but chose to stay off the streets when the IRGC began to use more violent methods to disperse the protesters. She, too, is happy with the European Parliament’s decision. “I believe because of the IRGC’s violence, everyone is happy with this news,” she said, hoping that the designation limits the financial capabilities of the IRGC and puts them under closer inspection. Hawre*, 36, was wounded early on in the protests but went back to the streets immediately after his recovery. He was arrested by Iranian intelligence and was questioned for nearly a month. He is currently out on bail until his case is brought to court. “Although the people know the IRGC very well, this recognition from the outside world makes them happy. But they are afraid it will only be propaganda to appease public opinion and will never actually be implemented,” said Hawre, who resides in the Kurdish city of Saqqez, Amini’s hometown. Hawre is worried that, if the designation is finalized, it could compel the IRGC to retaliate with force against the people, and would like to see some alternative form of pressure applied to the Guards to try and bring about change first, instead of directly designating them as terrorists. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has criticized the EU’s “inappropriate” decision and threatened that Iran’s parliament would slap a terror label on European armies if the EU parliament’s resolution goes through. The US has had the IRGC as well as its Quds Force on its terror blacklist since 2019. Rudaw English has withheld the full names of the subjects and the identity of the special correspondent out of concerns for their safety. Translated and written by Chenar Chalak
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