SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region—The younger of the two sons of late Change Movement (Gorran) leader Nawshirwan Mustafa may become a major character in the party founded by his father as that is what is expected of him, say some Gorran officials, while others doubt his interest in party politics.
“The sons of Nawshirwan are under some obligation given the nature of the Kurdish society,” a Gorran National Assembly member who didn’t want to be named told Rudaw.
“Their father was engaged in politics for half a century and they were always by his side,” he added. “They also attended many important political meetings.”
The Gorran official thought that Mustafa’s two sons will eventually “become involved in politics,” adding that “nothing has been discussed yet about their participation or receiving positions of authority within the Gorran party,”
Mustafa’s younger son Chya was born in Iranian Kurdistan in 1986. He has a Master’s degree in Politics and International Relations from Harvard University. He speaks English and German and is a British citizen.
Chya along with his elder brother Nma were often seen with their father in public and meetings after the foundation of Gorran by Mustafa. Mustafa died on May 19 in Sulaimani after a long battle with cancer.
The two also attended their party’s first convention as guests in 2013.
“Compared to Nma, Chya is more interested in political work,” said the Gorran official.
Chya is also said to have sometimes acted as his father’s public relations person and attended high-level meetings and negotiations with local and foreign delegations.
A close relative of the Mustafas told Rudaw however, that his sons may not be interested in stepping into their father’s shoes though it is their right if they wanted so.
“The sons of Nawshirwan don’t want to take any positions within the Gorran party, although they have the right to register their candidacy to positions of power according to the party’s by-laws,” a close relative said.
Bestun Fayeq, a Gorran MP agreed that the sons may not become engaged in Gorran politics as that was not their father’s intention either.
“If Nawshirwan had the intention to push his sons forward, he would have given them positions of authority,” Fayeq said.
“But he was against the idea or practice of having a dynasty running the parties, political system and the state. We will continue this philosophy because the Gorran party is not a movement run by a dynasty.”
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