The international conspiracy against PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, which began on October 9, 1998 and continued with his handover to Turkey, has caused great anger in the four parts of Kurdistan. Kurds and their supporters took to the streets all over the world during the conspiracy. Iran and the cities of Rojhilat (East Kurdistan) were among the places where the reactions were raised during the conspiracy process.  

 

On the days when Abdullah Öcalan was trying to find a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue in Europe (November 21, 1998), Dariush Forouhar, leader of the Iranian National Party and former Minister of Interior, and his wife Parvaneh Eskenderi were stabbed to death in their home in Tehran. Forouhar, a Kurdish friend, had applied to the Interior Ministry a few days before his murder to organize a rally in front of the Embassy of Rome in Tehran demanding that “Italy grant asylum to Abdullah Öcalan”. While the perpetrator or perpetrators were never found, years later the BBC's Persian service reported that Iranian intelligence, in cooperation with MIT, had killed Forouhar and his wife.

 

PROTESTS IN ROJHILAT 

                                                                                                                                                                         

After Abdullah Öcalan was brought to Turkey on February 15, 1999, the people of Rojhilat organized protests in Kurdistan Province and other regions, including Tehran, Selmas, Mahabad, Kirmanshan, Ilam, Urmia, Maku, Seqiz, Merîwan, Bukan, Kamiyaran, Piranşehr and Serdeşt. While a curfew was declared in Rojhilat, 6 people were killed in Kirmanshan, Urmia and Selmas. On February 18, millions gathered in front of the Turkish Embassy in Tehran demanding the release of Abdullah Öcalan. 

 

On February 18, protests were launched by students and instructors at Kurdistan University in Sanandaj. Students and lecturers were beaten and detained during the protests, which grew with the support of the public, and around 900 students were arrested. A student-led march planned for February 22 in the city of Sineh was banned hours before it was due to start. Then Governor Abdullah Ramzanzadeh ordered the marchers to open fire, killing at least 20 protesters and injuring dozens more. The protests and the regime's counter-attacks lasted for a month, while even funerals were not allowed to be organized for those who lost their lives. 

 

'JIN, JIYAN, AZADI' RESISTANCE

 

In Iran and Rojhilat cities, where reactions rose during the conspiracy process, in mid-2022, the slogan “Jin, jiyan, azadî (woman, life, freedom)”, which was shaped around Abdullah Öcalan's “women's liberation” paradigm, rose.  

 

Kurdish woman Jîna Emînî was detained by Irshad patrols in Tehran, the capital of Iran, on September 13, 2022, on the grounds that she was “not wearing her headscarf in accordance with the rules” and died as a result of violence at the police station. After her murder, women and men took to the streets together for the first time and started mass protests.  

 

The protests, which started after Emînî's funeral in her hometown of Seqiz on September 17, quickly spread across the country and turned into an anti-regime resistance. At least 551 people were killed by the regime's soldiers and police during the protests that lasted 8 months and spread to more than 100 cities. 

 

The main slogan of the protests was “Jin, jiyan, azadi”. This slogan spread from Iran and Rojhilat to the whole world. 

 

On the anniversary of the international conspiracy, Kejal Shexmohammdi, activist of the East Kurdistan Free Women's Community (KJAR), made evaluations to our agency. 

 

THE STRUGGLE HAS INCREASED DAY BY DAY

 

Stating that the conspiracy was carried out against all Kurds in the person of Abdullah Öcalan, Shexmohammdi said: “Although the governments tried to suppress the demands of the Kurdish people, they faced protests. Many women led the protests and carried out sacrifices against the conspiracy. Kurds, who were targeted by nation-states in Kurdistan and the Middle East, continued their struggle. Especially the revolution in Rojava and the self-governments in North Kurdistan have made the Kurdish people a model for the world. In the face of the attacks of nation-states, the Kurdish people have shown that they will always and everywhere defend their identity and their struggle has increased day by day.”

 

WOMEN'S PIONEERING MISSION 

 

Shexmohammdi reminded that there have been many revolts in Iran in the last 100 centuries, “Tens of thousands of people sacrificed their lives for a free life, but they could not achieve their goals. Because the rebellions were carried out with an authoritarian and patriarchal mentality. It became clear that this mentality will not bring freedom, liberty and equality. It was concluded that neither women nor society could be free without overcoming this mentality” Shexmohammdi said and stated that women are struggling against this mentality and that they took to the streets to ask for the account of Jîna Emînî, who was murdered for not wearing the proper veil. 

 

“On the second day of Emînî's murder, the revolt spread to East Kurdistan and Iran under the leadership of women. Women in Bakur, Bashur, Rojava and Europe supported the uprising. With this stance, women went beyond the classical organizations of the left and right. For this reason, women who have been pioneering for years are coming back stronger and stronger every time” Shexmohammdi said. 

 

'LEADER APO'S PHILOSOPHY GIVES STRENGTH'

 

Stating that the people of Rojhilat and Iran were influenced by the armed women's forces, Shexmohammdi said: “Just as the women of Rojhilat derived their strength and determination from Leader Apo's philosophy and thought, women from other nations of the world were also influenced by this philosophy and received training. The main slogan of almost all women has become 'jin, jiyan, azadi'.”

 

I·MRALI ISOLATION 

 

Describing the isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan as “immoral and illegal”, Shexmohammdi said: “The Turkish regime has not allowed any meeting with Leader Apo for years, disregarding all international legal rules. Of course, this action of the Turkish regime is hostile to the entire Kurdish people. At a time when Leader Apo is working hard for a peaceful and democratic solution to the Kurdish issue, the Turkish regime has committed such a brutal act (isolation).”

 

STRUGGLE AGAINST THE EXTERMINATION CONCEPT 

 

Shexmohammdi underlined that the isolation in İmralı insists on the lack of a solution and said: “The policy of persecution against Leader Apo means declaring a comprehensive war in all parts of Kurdistan. Military operations have been expanded in North Kurdistan. By arresting thousands of politicians and activists, the will of the Kurdish people was tried to be thwarted. Attempts were made to create chaos among Kurdish parties in West Kurdistan. There are actions of this regime against all Kurdish people all over Kurdistan. A historical period is taking place in the Middle East. The region is being redesigned. The Kurdish people have faced attacks at this sensitive historical stage. It is very clear that the Kurdish people will not accept any hostile attempt and will insist to the end to obtain their freedom and legitimate rights. All occupiers, especially the Turkish regime, must understand that the Kurdish people have been struggling against the occupation and liquidation of their enemies for years and will never accept the fate imposed on them. The joint and comprehensive struggle against the various attempts of the Turkish regime is the fundamental duty of all Kurdish parties and is of strategic importance for the fate of the Kurdish people. We reiterate our commitment to Leader Apo and his ideological understanding. We also warn the Turkish regime to put an end to its hostile actions.” 

 

THE FOUNDING CODES OF IRAN

 

Pointing out that Iran continues its existence through 4 basic codes, Shexmohammdi continued as follows: “Iran is one of the oldest nation states and empires in the world. Therefore, first of all, it protects the state and the basic principles of the state. In other words, the foundations of the state are defended in the most ruthless way. We can explain these foundations through 4 codes. The first code is the slavery of women, the denial of their will. The second code is to kill libertarian beliefs and cultures. The third code is to destroy the Kurdish people. The fourth code is to create an obedient and hungry society. The first fatwa of the Islamic regime was to make it compulsory for women to cover themselves. Then they restricted women's rights one by one. Then began the massacres, murders and executions of beliefs and identities that wanted freedom. The third fatwa was to kill all freedom fighters. Following these, Khomeini ordered the killing of all politicians and revolutionaries in prisons and arrested and killed others. The Kurdish people were the most affected. Economically, the people were starved and forced to obey.” 

 

Tomorrow: 'Work of Öcalan: The revolution' 

 

MA / Berivan Kutlu