Iran: Not Just a Nuclear Issue, Save Kurdish Political Prisoners!

Rebwar Reshid

By Rebwar Rashed:

The talks about Iran’s nuclear program and the negotiation between Iran and world powers have overshadowed the human rights issue.

Iran’s nuclear program is just one, albeit a big one, of Iran’s many problems which include, for example: suppressing Kurdish people and others, such as the Balochi’s and Arabs; institutional and structural racism and discrimination towards Kurds, Arabs and Balochi’s; discriminating against women in an almost apartheid structure; state-organized sexual harassment and abuses against minors, especially little girls, for instance forcing them into trafficking, arbitrary and forced marriages; production, distribution and selling of drugs by the state; the religious suppression of Sunnis and Baha’is and secularists; last but not least, organizing and supporting terrorism across the world, especially in the Middle East, are also other important issues in Iran.

As a whole, the peoples of Iran suffer from organized theft, fraud and corruption by the state. Ayatollah Khamenei, Rouhani, Rafsanjani and other state officials, now and in the last 35 years, are among those who have enriched themselves at the expense of the Iranian peoples.

The attacks on defenceless women who get acid on their faces just because they possibly show their faces a little more than they are supposed to, according to arbitrary religious laws, is just another example of how Iranian religious beliefs have reached a horrible level domestically. Internationally it has reached the level of threatening the state of Israel with destruction.

The aggressive and expansionistic Shia ideology of Iran has confused the West and the democratic opinion of the world, especially on the matter of mass destruction weapons such as the atomic bomb. Thus the International Community has forgotten human rights and other important issues or at least sees them as much less priority. The misdeeds against Iranians might be understood as quite sad and regrettable, but not much is done about it.

The US and the West have chosen to trust President Hassan Rouhani’s false charm. At a closer look at the presidential core and at the Iranian state – and the government structure, we see that the Iranian ambition to gain atomic weapons, their anti-Semitic mentality and practice, the expansionism of their religious ideology and so on, are all still there. President Hassan Rouhani is just winning time, diplomatic achievements and political points. The fact is that Iran needs cash and a natural flow and transaction of money.

The so-called Arabic Spring with it’s devastating outcomes as religious war, political chaos, violence and brutality, disrespect for other beliefs and other nationalities and ethnicities, has helped Iran and Turkey to become real regional powers, a Sunni and a Shia. The Arabs failure to have a secular democratic and equality vision and strategy has made them to an easy prey to Iran and Turkey. Iran took easily over Yemen and Turkey took over ISIS, to use it against Kurdish people, while the Arab world was asleep.

In short, Iran and Turkey´s hegemony has made the Middle East an unstable and fragile political area. Turkey has been the only economic beneficiary. Right now, it is the only country that controls the flow of Kurdish oil and gas.

Iran has penetrated the depths of Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Hamas and other places.

In the shadow of all these political achievements, both Turkey and Iran have started to crush civilian activists brutally, especially in Kurdistan.

Back in 1979 when the Iranian revolution was taken over by the Shia Islamists, the first crack downs were on Kurds, Arabs and Balochis. Later on, Iranian communists, socialists, homosexuals and religious minorities became targets too. There were thousands of Kurdish deaths, imprisonment, deportations, displacements and other reprisal measures against Kurdish civilians since 1979. The last 35 years have been a history of bloodshed, suppression and human rights violations against Kurdish people in Rojhelat (Iranian Kurdistan).

Right now there are at least 29 Kurdish political prisoners in the Kurdish city of Wermé (Orumiyeh in Persian) who have gone into a hunger strike to protest the lack of freedom, civil- and citizen rights.

These political prisoners’ only crime is that they are Kurds who struggle legally for democratic rights. Rights that many of them are already granted on paper, according to the Iranian state constitution.

These are the names of Kurdish political prisoners on hunger strike (Note that their names can be spelled differently):

Bahruz Alikhani, Amir Meladost, Sirwan Nijwariy, Jafar Mirzaiy, Ibrahim Rezapour, Mohamad Abdulbext, Abdulla Afseriy, Arefat Afseriy, Abdulrehman Sulayman, Said Sami Houssaini, Abdulla Mahmodi, Ahmed Tamouiy, Osman Mustafapour, Mustafa rahman, Yousif Kake Memé, Said Jamal Mohamadiy, Alireza Resouliy, Shorsh Afsariy, Mustafa Afshariy, Mustafa Daoudiy, Ali Afshariy, Jafar Afshari y, Weli Afshariy , Habib Afshariy, Keyhan Derweshiy, Sherko Hassanpour, Mohamad Abdullahiy, Khizir Resoulidad and Saman Nesim.

Kurds all over the world call on human rights organizations, the United Nations, Democratic Forums, the International Community and the democratic opinion in the world to break their silence on Iran and start to mention Rojhelat/ Iranian Kurdistan and her right to national- and democratic rights.

These political prisoners have not committed any crime. They are Kurds who demand democratic rights for everybody, not just for Kurds. They have been on a hunger strike for 22 days today (11thDecember 2014). From the beginning, they were only asking the state for better treatment, without systematic harassment and tortures, and also not to be mixed together with other prisoners who have been charged for criminal acts, not for political “crimes”.

The International Community and the democratic opinion must raise its voice and ask Iran to respect the human rights, democratic- and citizenship rights of the peoples of Iran, otherwise these Kurdish political prisoners will lose their lives as they have been on hunger strike for 22 days. They are already suffering from lack of nutrition and proper health care.

If President Hassan Rouhani is serious about any reforms concerning human rights, democratic- and national issues, now it is the best time to put them into practice.

Related reading:

  1. http://www.ncr-iran.org/en/ncri-statements/human-rights/17568-iranian-kurdish-political-prisoners-stage-hunger-strike-in-orumiyeh-prison
  2. http://www.bestanuce1.com/haber/155454/iran-hanges-18-kurdish-political-prisoners&dil=en

Rebwar Rashed has a Ph.D. degree in Political Science. He has translated several books into Kurdish and also written many articles in Kurdish and English about the Kurdistan National Liberation Movement, human rights, anti-Semitism, equality between the sexes and ethnicities, and the need for a democratic and peaceful struggle.

9 Responses to Iran: Not Just a Nuclear Issue, Save Kurdish Political Prisoners!
  1. Parvin Mustafa
    December 11, 2014 | 21:59

    A message to his EX the spiritual leader of Islamic Republic of Iran

    I am Parvin Mustafa. I am from Kermanshah of Kurdish origin. I used to be a political activist. It have been living in Europe for the last 11 years. I am fed up here. I wish to spend the rest of my life in my country. I am a proud Iranian. I say that with pride. The recent peace efforts by Kurdish political parties & the regime changed my spirit and gave hope to my last wish. I SINCERELY Long it succeeds. It’s very optimistic. I encourage all sides to pursue it seriously. Please issue a general amnesty. I have condemned violence and shall lay down my weapon forever.

    Thank you !
    With deepest regards
    Long live Islamic Republic of Iran

    • Rebwar R
      December 13, 2014 | 20:13

      A message to the so called “EX” …
      1. You are not ” Parvin Mustafa”. There is an error in your name, I will not spell that out because I don´t want to teach you that.
      2. You are not a Kurd. Kurds never writes “of Kurdish origin”.
      3. Khamanai is NOT a “spiritual leader of IRAN”. He is ONLY a spiritual leader of some Persians Shia. There are many Shia Kurds, but they never had or have any privileges for been “Shia”. Iran only seeks to separate Kurds from each other.
      4. There are much more better places for you to advertise your add. This place for comments is not a good choice to ask for forgiveness. Why not go to Iranian embassy directly?
      5. Whoever you are, some things are quite clear: You are not a Kurd, You have never struggled for peace and freedom, You have never been member of a Kurdish political party and you don´t have any sympathy to Kurdish nation or the Baluches or Arabs.
      6. A Kurd never writes “Kermanshah”. You are doing too many mistakes. You are pretty unknowing.
      7. There are no whatsoever “peace efforts” between Iran and Kurdish “political parties”. Iran is an occupier and must leave Kurdistan, Arab-Ahwaz, Baluchistan and Turkmenistan/ Qeshwayistan.
      8. You have never taken up a weapon to lay it down now.
      9. And you travel many times back and forth to Iran and have good connection with the Ayatollahs. You are just making up lies.
      10. You can do better than this. Engage yourself in a serious, transparent, civilized and open dialogue.

  2. Kurdo zardasht ilo
    December 13, 2014 | 20:33

    The world is talking about the regime in Iran, the Islamic terrorist crimes! Murder and corruption executions and rape of girls by the security services! Poverty and unemployment achievements Mullah in Iran! Congratulations to you this terrorist state (Daash) !!!

    Long live to kurdistan

  3. Regular KT Reader
    December 13, 2014 | 23:08

    I would love/appreciate to see more articles written/ published on Kurdish independence in South please KT. Thank you all!

  4. Tuba Irani
    December 14, 2014 | 19:43

    The Islamic Republic of Iran will disapear soon. You will see that.ashina
    Go back there, it seems that you enjoy crimes of systemaric rapes, trafficking, women abuse etc.
    People like you should not have a place in the democratic world.
    What you really do for a living?
    Tuba Irani

  5. Nadia S K
    December 14, 2014 | 22:20

    to you who call themselves Perwin and she’s Kurds : if you were a Kurd and really a knowledgeable person would see how Iran kills the spark in freedom and in man . If you were a Kurd , you would never be able to say Long Live Islamic Republic of Iran , you would instead say long to live the political prisoners who are currently on hunger strike in Iranian prison. All the hangings going on, all the women who are raped , all children who become addicts ? But I do not even know you exist so keep just shut up and do not tell me you are the Kurds ! Kurds love justice , democracy and freedom , you know nothing about this! I think you are one who just wants attention , so go ahead you get it !!

  6. Mohsin
    December 15, 2014 | 05:12

    Nadia

    Parvin n is trying to push for peace here. Her point is Iran should grant Kurds equal rights.

    I agree.

    Peace

  7. Nadia S K
    December 15, 2014 | 14:45

    Hi Im sorry , but I was just angry because she says long live The Islamic Republic of Iran and that she was a proud Iranians . and because of the hunger strike going on and all hangings , I was extra sensitive so …

  8. Baban
    December 17, 2014 | 12:21

    Thank you Rebwar for that interesting article! It reflect the realities of the iranian political and social… society. As well as the realities of national and religious groups in Iran.
    The Kurds in Iran, more than ever, are DETERMINED to take back their rights and the question is not that weither we will take it, the question is, when we will take it.

Leave a Reply to Parvin Mustafa

Wanting to leave an <em>phasis on your comment?

Trackback URL https://kurdistantribune.com/iran-not-just-nuclear-issue-save-kurdish-political-prisoners/trackback/