Statement from the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran
Yekiti Media
On August 16, 2025, the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) marks its 80th anniversary, honoring eight decades of struggle, sacrifice, and steadfast commitment to freedom and democracy. Founded in 1945 as the continuation of the Komalay Ziyanaway Kurd (The Society for Kurdish Resurrection), the party quickly made history by establishing the short-lived but historically significant Republic of Kurdistan under the leadership of Peshawa Qazi Muhammad. Though the republic lasted less than a year, its legacy has endured as a symbol of Kurdish self-determination.
Over the decades, the PDKI has fought against dictatorship and tyranny—first under the Shah and later under the Islamic Republic of Iran. Thousands of its members, including prominent leaders such as Dr. Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou and Dr. Sadegh Sharafkandi, have given their lives in pursuit of justice, democracy, and the national rights of the Kurdish people. Despite facing harsh repression, assassinations, military campaigns, and exile, the party has never abandoned its principles of democracy, human rights, and peaceful coexistence among Iran’s diverse nations.
The PDKI emphasizes unity among Kurdish and Iranian opposition forces and strives for a future federal, democratic republic in Iran that recognizes national, linguistic, and religious diversity.
On this anniversary, PDKI honors the memory of its martyrs, reaffirms its dedication to the aspirations of the Kurdish people, and expresses gratitude for the unwavering support of the people of Kurdistan. Looking to the future with hope, the party enters its ninth decade of struggle as a beacon of freedom, democracy, and justice.
