CAIRO, MAR.7 (SEE)- On the 14th of March 1903, the first lines of an action-packed chapter of Barzan’s history was being jotted down with Mulla Mustafa, opening his eyes to its glimmering sun.
It was either death or glory for the stout-hearted patriot who fought staunchly for the independence of his fellow Kurds scattered over the bordering lands of Iraq, Iran and the Soviet Union (SU).
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Photo Credit: Ciyaye Kurmenc Encyclopedia[/caption]
Establishing an independent Kurdistan was the name of his 50-year defiance.
In 1946, Barzani founded the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) and became the army leader of the Kurdish Mahadab Republic, located in the northwest of Iran and established with the help of the SU.
One year later, the game changed as Iran annexed the republic following the withdrawal of SU forces and Barzani took refuge in Soviet Azerbaijan.
It was until 1958’s revolution for Barzani to return back to Iraq and revive independence calls.
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Photo Credit: Ciyaye Kurmenc Encyclopedia[/caption]
However, his negotiations with the Iraqi government on the area’s autonomy in northern Iraq failed. Besides, he was trailed into numerous battles against several regimes, including Sadam Hussein’s dictatorship.
These circumstances drove Barzani to escape in 1960 to the mountains, starting a guerrilla against Iraqi forces.
Ten years later, both sides agreed on a cease-fire and according to the peace treaty: the Kurdish area (excluding Kirkuk) achieved its autonomy and Iraq listed their language amongst its official ones.
Though Barzani had to strife for the Kurdish case, he was the subject of several bloodshed attempts and had to rebuild his Peshmerga (meaning forward to death).
In 1974, Barzani neither accepted the law issued by the Iraqi government regarding the Kurdish autonomous region, nor the other autonomy agreement excluding Kirkuk. Thus, backed by Iran, he gave orders to the Peshmerga to resume attacks.
Nonetheless, in 1975, the Iranian support to the Kurdish Revolution ended, due to the Algiers agreement between Iraq and Iran. The Iraqi forces controlled the Kurdish guerrilla. Barzani and his followers ended up in Tehran requesting asylum in the US where he passed away on the 1st of March 1979.
After his death, his son Masoud became the KDP’s leader and in 2005, he presided over the Kurdistan Regional Government (till the first of November 2017).
To revive the memory of such a significant figure, the KDP’s office in Cairo, headed by Shirkuh Habib, celebrated the 40th anniversary of Barzani’s death.
In his speech, Habib praised Barzani’s appeal for justice and equality, “He was not only a Kurdish or an Iraqi leader but also a well-known figure for half a century all over the world.
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Head of the KDP’s Office in Cairo Shirkuh Habib[/caption]
“Over 50 years, he was fighting for his country’s liberty and his people’s national rights…..He is the eternal leader Mostafa El Barzani.”
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