ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – One of the major Kurdish opposition parties in Iran is planning to make major changes to the party’s military course, name, bylaws, and organs in a bid to further progress in the Kurdish movement in eastern Kurdistan, Rojhelat, as the Kurdish areas of Iran are known. Mustafa Hijri, leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI, HDKA), has prepared a three point proposal to present at the party’s 16th congress, expected to be held in the near future. His proposal includes changing the mechanisms of running the party, increasing Peshmerga military activities against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and integrating with the party’s splintered group, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP, HDK). “The past mechanisms have not been able to resolve the basic problems in running the party. The weakness of the sense of responsibility and the backward culture of working against one another among the groups of the party are growing,” reads an abstract of Hijri’s proposal obtained by Rudaw. Hijri suggests the removal of PDKI’s main organs, notably the politburo and central committee, to be replaced by a “Political and Secretarial Central Agency.” This agency would make decisions on the party’s public policy and would become the center for PDKI’s internal affairs. The congress should directly elect a leader to the party and should concentrate more power in his hands, per Hijri’s proposal. A large number of the party’s officials and members have shown opposition to the proposal. Commenting on the need to reshuffle the party’s structure, Majeed Haqi, a veteran member of the party, suggested the party’s leaders work on a clear agenda and decide on the political discourse for the party: either “Iranian Kurdistan or eastern Kurdistan.” He explained that the PDKI should consider changing its course from “the provision of Kurdish national rights within the context of federal Iran” to “the fulfillment of the self-determination of the Kurdish nation in a democratic, federal and multi-national Iran.” A central focus of the PDKI’s agenda in the anticipated congress is to strengthen and fortify the party’s bases in the border areas between the Kurdistan Region and Iran and increase Peshmerga activities in the cities of eastern Kurdistan. According to Hassan Sharafi, deputy leader of the PDKI, a new phase in the increase of military activities will be analyzed and evaluated in the congress. “The expectations and desire of the cadres, Peshmerga, and the people of eastern Kurdistan from the PDKI congress is a decree to be issued to strengthen and maintain Rasan,” said Sharafi, referring to the Peshmerga activities. The reunification of PDKI with one of its splinter groups, Kurdistan Democratic Party (HDK), which split in 2006, will be a key topic of discussion at the congress. Both groups have held their separate party congresses since their break up. HDK awaits a decree coming out from the PDKI congress to allow the commencement of talks between the two parties. PDKI, however, officially describes HDK members as ‘the friends of the past.’ HDK has insisted it will not enter reunification talks until PDKI stops using that phrase. Aso Hasanzada, spokesperson of the HDK politburo, called upon participants of the PDKI congress not to “make a decision which will hamper PDKI’s future guidelines in their direction towards the reunification of both groups.” Haqi stated that in the 15th congress of his party, the central committee had been recommended to resolve the pending issues and integrate with the HDK. The committee, however, did not do so, instead believing that any step towards reunification needs a political decision. Haqi is of the opinion that reunification of the two parties will come about only through a committee of experts who will be able to work on organizational matters and joint efforts. After the resignation of Khalid Azizi from his post as the secretary general of the HDK, the party started to form a new negotiating delegation to enter a new phase of talks with the PDKI. They have met once, deciding to postpone integration talks until after the PDKI’s congress. “In the congress we will talks about our party’s relations with other political parties and the reunification of the two democratic party groups.” On the phrase ‘the friends of the past,’ Sharafi says “the concept of the past friends has been decided on from the congress and only members of the congress could decide to revoke this term.” Founded in 1945 the PDKI is the main Kurdish opposition group to the Iranian state. The group ceased all armed activities against Iran more than a decade ago to seek a political solution.
Middle East07-06-2026Iranian lawmaker threatens ‘painful response’ over Israel’s attacks on Beirut suburbs
