Kurdish party in Iran pleads for outside 'support' in pursuit of democracy
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A week into civil unrest across Iran, leaders of Kurdish political parties are requesting help for their struggle for democracy, while separating the regime from the country of Iran.
“The international community must support people in their struggle for democracy in Iran," PDKI General-Secretary Mustafa Hijri wrote in a tweet on Wednesday morning.
Protests in Iran began almost a week ago on December 28 in Mashhad, the country's second-largest city, and located in the far east.
They quickly spread to dozens of cities. Lists of planned protests in 63 cities across the Islamic Republic were disseminated on social media.
Hijri underscored that the people of Iranian Kurdistan are supportive of Iran, but not the "Islamist regime,"
"The people of Kurdistan will support the people of Iran in their pursuit for democracy and freedom from the Islamist regime," said PDKI's leader.
The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) and other Kurdish parties have been engaged in an armed resistance against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also known as Pasdaran, for decades. PDKI ended its ceasefire in 2015, saying it would not initiate hostilities unless attacked.
PDKI and the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan separately posted videos claiming to be from Tehran, Qahderijan, Mashhad, Shahin Shahr, Khorramabad, and Shiraz on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning showing people clashing with what appeared to be riot police.
"Street clashes between demonstrators and Iran's Islamist paramilitary forces continued late into the night," wrote PDKI in a Wednesday tweet.
Rudaw could not verify the authenticity of the claims or video.
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wrote in a tweet late on Tuesday that "Iran's security and stability depend on its own people" and "infiltrators will not be allowed to sabotage them through violence and destruction."
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated on Tuesday: "We expect that the rights to peaceful assembly and expression of the Iranian people will be respected.”
Citing media reports, the UN stated the demonstrations have left "at least 20 people dead."
The United States will call for an emergency United Nations session in New York and of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, US Ambassador to the UN Nicki Haley said on Tuesday.
“The international community must support people in their struggle for democracy in Iran," PDKI General-Secretary Mustafa Hijri wrote in a tweet on Wednesday morning.
Protests in Iran began almost a week ago on December 28 in Mashhad, the country's second-largest city, and located in the far east.
They quickly spread to dozens of cities. Lists of planned protests in 63 cities across the Islamic Republic were disseminated on social media.
Hijri underscored that the people of Iranian Kurdistan are supportive of Iran, but not the "Islamist regime,"
"The people of Kurdistan will support the people of Iran in their pursuit for democracy and freedom from the Islamist regime," said PDKI's leader.
The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) and other Kurdish parties have been engaged in an armed resistance against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also known as Pasdaran, for decades. PDKI ended its ceasefire in 2015, saying it would not initiate hostilities unless attacked.
PDKI and the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan separately posted videos claiming to be from Tehran, Qahderijan, Mashhad, Shahin Shahr, Khorramabad, and Shiraz on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning showing people clashing with what appeared to be riot police.
"Street clashes between demonstrators and Iran's Islamist paramilitary forces continued late into the night," wrote PDKI in a Wednesday tweet.
Rudaw could not verify the authenticity of the claims or video.
PDKI, Komala, the Toilers and the Kurdistan Free Life Party issued statements on Sunday blaming the protests on economic problems and "decades" of oppression by the regime.
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wrote in a tweet late on Tuesday that "Iran's security and stability depend on its own people" and "infiltrators will not be allowed to sabotage them through violence and destruction."
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated on Tuesday: "We expect that the rights to peaceful assembly and expression of the Iranian people will be respected.”
Citing media reports, the UN stated the demonstrations have left "at least 20 people dead."
The United States will call for an emergency United Nations session in New York and of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, US Ambassador to the UN Nicki Haley said on Tuesday.