From: "Washington Kurdish Institute"
07/18/01
1. Ghassemlou Remembered on Anniversary of Assassination (PDKI) 7/13
2. Rural Girls Deprived of Education (PDKI) 6/23

July 13, 2001

Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI)

 Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) in the period of its 56 years of struggling history has left behind many vulnerable stages. Hard and difficult struggle filled with strained circumstances, heaped up with sudden events and unpleasant tragedies. In the past, the despotism of monarchy, and in this period the reactionary regime of Islamic Republic's oppression have continuously been waging on our Party as a disturbing nightmare. These regimes have not withheld from any inhumane plans and actions for the elimination of our Party leadership, surrendering its members, and to put an end to its political and organizational history.

Qazi Mohammad who was the founder, and the leader of PDKI, and the establisher of the Kurdistan Republic was hanged on March 30, 1947 on the  order of Mohammad Reza Shah, only with the offense that he had lived for the> Kurds, and had been in the service of his national aspirations. No doubt, the unpleasant tragedy of July 13, 1989 too was not only painful that it will never vanish from the memory of the Kurds, but it also afflicted and touched upon the hearts of democratic liberation activists, and defendants of human rights globally.

 It was in this day, that Dr. Ghassemlou, the Secretary-general of our Party, and Abdullah Ghaderi-Azar, member of the Central Committee and the official representative of the Party in Europe, were assassinated in the city of Vienna by> the terrorists of Islamic Republic. A plan that the regime's mercenaries had drafted in the name of negotiation ended with the assassination of Dr. Ghassemlou and his comrades. Regime's authorities had hoped to achieve from this terror the demise of our Party, the disappointment of the people of Kurdistan in their just cause that the PDKI had been leading.

 Dr. Ghassemlou was a talented and a capable personality of our Party. Within the organization and the Kurdish community, he was a popular and a well-respected individual. He was not only a charismatic leader within the Kurds, but he was also known as a knowledged individual in diplomacy and a messenger of peace and dialogue in the world of politics, in international community, and democratic organizations, and his global fame emanated from these characteristics.

Ghassemlou's mission to lead PDKI dates back to 1950. When he started to perform this mission, from PDKI had remained a big name, but a destroyed city. It was because of his leading role that the political-organizational structure of the Party was redrawn from the start, and was organized based on a modern platform that was reflective of the contemporary conditions of struggle, and a developed programme and charter for the Party was proposed. After these changes, absolutism was abolished in the Party forever; internal democracy flourished; meetings, conferences and conventions took place; the leadership of the Party was elected from these conferences and conventions; collective cooperative activities proliferated; the principle of criticism --aimed at eliminating shortages and solving difficulties-- and development was given top priority; education and training of members with organizational courage, and struggle in the direction of raising their level of political-organizational knowledge spread, and organization became the mot important weapon of political activeness.

The thesis of living Ghassemlou on healthy internal relations were blended with mutual understanding and friendship; not only the borders between accountability and friendship did not fall and were not disrupted, but also each on its own place was respected. The circumstances were changed in a way that the member of the Party from the top of the pyramid to its bases, transformed to the members of a family. The effects of such changes on the members were so drastic that they considered the Party theirs, and were extremely active in preserving their Party personality.

Dr. Ghassemlou theorized the Party's relations with the Kurdish organizations and parties in a way that the layout of these relations should be analyzed as a historical necessity, and established on the basis of mutual respect and non-intervention in each other's affairs, and most importantly no Kurdish organization should allow itself to establish regional and international relations with  countries on behalf of another organization.

Ghassemlou believed in the unity of the Kurdish nation. It was from this perspective that he published "Kurdistan and Kurds". However, his world understanding of the Kurdish issues was very realistic. He had felt all the obstacles> that had been created by the sensitive geographical location of Kurdistan. He would critically analyze the level of capability and power of the international forces in the Middle East region. In this analysis it was  important that between "national interest" and "political consideration", he had chosen " the possible". This thesis was followed by the synthesis slogan of "Democracy for Iran, Autonomy for Kurdistan", a slogan that has still remained as the strategic slogan of the Party, and has gathered members and sympathizers under its umbrella.

Ghassemlou observed a special dialectical relationship between "national democracy" and "regional autonomy", and identified a precise and logical relationship method that the Party developed with national Iranian organizations. These relations were rooted on the basis of finding common grounds and mutual respect, and the avoidance of any emerging hegemonic force. Those segment of organizations and national parties that respected democracy and the rights of oppressed nationalities of Iran were placed on the front ranks of the organizations  that the Party should establish relations with, and it was  meant that these relations should be strategic and long-term. PDKI in this respect also attained many important achievements. Its prestige increased day by day among the popular  masses of Iran and other democratic political personalities and nation-wide organizations. The political-organizational capability and credit of the Party in regards to the destiny of Iranian political alternative has reached a scale that any national or united democratic or progressive front in Iran without the cooperation or participation of PDKI is considered weak and incomplete.

 Ghassemlou's thesis in regards to the presence of the Party in international  gatherings and communities was also very effective and decisive. Previously, if there existed any relationships between our Party and the international groups and organizations, it was not reflective of our Party's resistance circumstances and conditions. It was Ghassemlou who with experience and  awareness of the culture and politics of Eastern and Western European countries, cleverly and masterly strived on these matters and experimented many ways, and showed to the world a real image of a democrat; it reached a stage that now mainly as a result of his non-top struggle, PDKI has been admitted to the ranks of Socialist International as a member to carry across the just demands of the Kurds in Iranian Kurdistan to  the world via this universal tribune.

Ghassemlou had dedicated the last 20 years of his life serving Party objectives. He was himself a school of humanity, national sentiment, and performance of Party affairs. The change that he brought into the Party organism was so effective, dynamic, and appropriate that after his martyrdom left behind a strong, firm Democratic Party with many experiences. The  precious lessons and advices that the companions of Democrat had learned from the school of Ghassemlou, had brought them about in a way that they had remained in the stage of struggle with a firm belief and a courage more than before; by keeping the ranks of the Party united, they remained faithful to the path of development, and did not allow the anti-ethnic regime, the Islamic Republic to carry out its polluted objectives.

 As we look into the month of July, and turn the daily pages of this month, we see that aside from the tragic event of July 13, 1989, we have also encountered another doleful event in 15 July 1999, and sadness and mourning has hurt the hearts of our democratic comrades once more. It was the sudden death of our valued comrade, Sayid Salam Azizi, member of Politburo of the Party. In this day, his heart stopped due to a sudden illness and this striving comrade bid farewell with his companions.

 Comrade Salam Azizi was a real democrat and one of  the loyal students of Dr. Ghassemlou. He too had dedicated the last two decades of his life to fight and struggle in the ranks of PDKI. In the direction of serving his objectives, he left aside his personal life, abandoned his post and state appointment, and joined the fighting force of the Party, and as a devoted and a fighting comrade dedicated all his capabilities and knowledge to perform his Party responsibilities. Truthfulness, merit, ingeniousness, firmness were some of the eminent social characteristics of Kak Salam that assisted him in this leadership role. He was elected as a member of Politburo for 10 years, and in this important and honourable post carried out his duties. Kak Salam was a public figure, and an extremely successful family man. He was very respected by all those who had close contact with him. Kak Salam was one of the most important assets of the Party and an energetic PDKI cadre. With his death, PDKI endured a heavy loss to its organizational structure. It has only been the courage and the sacrifices of children of Democrat who have been able to compensate the loss of this comrade and appeased the painful hearts of family and friends.

 In the 12th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Ghassemlou, and the 2nd anniversary of the absence of Kak Sayid Salam Azizi, comrades and co-fighters, along with a authentic and faithful praising to the spirits of these two live leaders, we renew our promise with their virtuous souls and the popular masses of Kurdistan that we remain the continuous followers of their proud path until the realization of their holy objectives, and the slogan of "victory or death" will remain as the lighthouse of our struggle.

Deprivation of Kurdistan's Rural Girls from Pursuing Their Studies

PDKI (translated from KURDISTAN, Organ of the Central Committee of PDKI)

June 23, 2001

"Every one has the right to have access to training and education. Technical training should become public and high level studies should be available to all equally so every one can equally enjoy their existance." (1)

 The establishment and expansion of educational centers, and providing its various requirements that gives all the members of society the opportunity to have access to education is the primary responsibility of every accountable state. In this case, the  disadvantaged and under-developed regions must become governments' top priorities. Such an initiative while accommodates the fundamental rights of a segment of society, it is also a step forward in constructing growth and developmental basis of society in all dimensions. But unfortunately, as a result of lack of commitments of government ruling Kurdistan, in this situation, we currently observe a huge segment of our society who due  to various obstacles has been deprived from pursuing their studies and developing their talents.

The issue of deprivation of rural girls from continued schooling has existed in the last two decades, despite the growing literacy in Kurdish villages, and other deprived areas. The prolongment of such situation has increased the number of girls deprived from higher education. It should also be noted that discussing rural girls does not mean that other groups are in a better condition. Such analysis, on one hand, is the indication of the existance of several layers of oppression that rural girls are trapped in, and on the other, the important impact that increasing rural girls literacy level will have in changing current public relations, growth and development in society. In analyzing the condition of continuing studies of these girls, we find several obstacles that are related and work together to create such a deprivation for rural girls:

Lack of necessary attention from authorities and their economic planners in the growth of educational center networks, particularly in providing accommodation for upper studies (secondary and post-secondary education) in rural areas, despite the fact that every year the majority of students in rural areas finish their elementary school, has resulted in the deprivation of a notable segment of society, especially girls in senior elementary and secondary school. Of course, in this case not all the girls are in the same situation; despite the fact that senior elementary schools have been created in some rural areas, many of these female students face such problems after finishing basic elementary school. A research done in one of the Kurdish provinces is a good support for such claims: "From girls in Kurdistan province only 23 773 were active in senior elementary that were mostly from urban areas. In school year 1997, for the first time one 24-hours female high school with the capacity of 124 students in one of the rural areas of the province was established". (2)

If shortage or lack of educational and training facilities is one of the obstacles ahead of many girls going beyond their elementary studies, there are also other reasons that in many cases work side by side to create the current situation: traditional, religious thinking of many rural families in regards to the issue of literacy of girls in general, and going beyond elementary in particular, and lack of girls independence (and women in general) along with material impoverishment, and country's economic crisis are also the reasons for rural girls early drop-out. It is the results of such realities that the average of female literacy level in rural areas is at its lowest (4 years). But if the illiterate girls of rural areas are put into the equation, there we find even a more disturbing result.

As it is evident, rural girls lack of access of necessary education and training has resulted in destructive consequences for them and society in general. In such conditions, we will constantly observe the repeated and renewed oppression and deprivation on one hand, and under-development of huge segment f our society's population on the other.  They cannot develop their talents and creativity due to shortage of scientific and technical knowledge and training, and at the end, they will be unable to change political climate in unequal conditions that have been mounted on them by family and society. Consequently, they will be unable to obtain their individual rights and freedom as their ancestors. This situation will result in continuing under-development of rural areas and society in general in cultural, economic and social aspects.

Here, we can conclude that oppression and deprivation that is used in regards to the rural girls of Kurdistan, aside from being an subjugation directly against them, it is an oppression against the Iranian Kurdish society in general. For ending such and creating conditions that they can obtain their human rights and become an active force in the service of development and growth of Kurdish society, educational networks in deprived areas need to be expanded as soon as possible, and rural girls should acquire necessary material and moral facilities for continuing their studies. The unfavourable conditions that they are situated in must be identified and known, and attempts must be made to increase the level of rural families knowledge considering the importance of education in  general and for girls as an important segment of society in particular.

 One last point that the deprivation of rural girls from their most basic  rights in this age that other societies have obtained astonishing achievements and wonderful developments, is a sorrow reality that has become the characteristics and an indication of under-development in our society. Of course this is an indication of situation filled with oppression and tyrannical ruling that the enemies of Kurds and Kurdistan have been the main cause of such a tragedy. Maybe the day of its extinction will come in the victory and the Kurdish peoples' attainment of their legitimate rights and demands (freedom,democracy, and ethnic rights). 

Sources:

  (1) A selection from Article 26, part 1 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 13 of UN Convention on Economic, social, and cultural.

  (2) "Women in Iran''s Labour Market", page 253

Washington Kurdish Institute

605 G Street, SW

Washington, D.C. 20024

202-484-0140 (tel)

202-484-0142 (fax)

www.kurd.org/kurd