Published By: The International Bureau of Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan

Iranian Kurdis tan Bul le tin IRANIAN KURDISTAN BULLETIN NUMBER 4, NOVEMBER 2002

Inside this issue: PDKI’s Politburo Statement Remembering the Assassination of Dr. Sadegh Sharafkandi, the Party’s Secretary-general and 1 His Associates, Ten Years Ago

The Execution of Three Political Prisoners in Islamic 3 Republic of

The Tragedy of Being Kurd in Iran 4

URDISTAN URDISTAN Dr. Ali-Reza Nourizadeh on the 10th anniversary of Dr. Sharafkandi K Secretary-general’s Letter to the Council of Europe’s External 6 Relations Office on the EU Human Rights Dialogue with Iran RANIAN I of EU to launch rights dialogue with Iran & 7 ARTY ARTY

P PDKI Politburo’s Appeal to United Nations’ Human Rights Commission on the recent executions of in Iran

News & ACTIVITIES: Victims of regime’s aggression and brutality, Kurdi- stan Province faces limitations?! Iran's Kurdistan province "safest" in country: Lari, 8 PDKI activities, visits and developments around the world

EMOCRATIC EMOCRATIC D Messages of Solidarity Secretary-general’s congratulatory letters to German Social Democrats 10 and Green Party on the recent parliamentary elections

Statement by the Socialist International Middle East Committee, 10 Kurdish Working Group

Press Review: 11 Iran’s new debate: theocracy versus secularism - Financial Times NUMBER 4, NOVEMBER 2002 PAGE 1

PDKI’s Politburo Statement Remembering the Assassination of Dr. Sadegh Sharafkandi, the Party’s SecretarySecretary---generalgeneral and His AssociatesAssociates,,,, Ten Years Ago 17th of The police and September 2002, 10 judicial authorities very years has elapsed from seriously pursued the the assassination of Dr. terrorists, and with the Sadegh Sharafkandi, custody and the Secretary-general of prosecution of the PDKI, Fatah Abdouli, a perpetrators, they member of Central opened the files of Committee and the Mykonos tragedy Party’s international which attracted so representative, much public opinion Homayoun Ardalan, towards the case in the the Party’s process that took more representative in than 3 years. The court , and Nouri at last delivered the Dehkurdi a friend of final verdict in April 10, the Party by the 1997 in regards to the mercenaries of the Islamic Dr. Sadegh Sharafkandi crimes of the perpetrators of the Republic of Iran. terror, including the regime’s In the evening of Tuesday period, he faded away the high ranking officials as the September 17th, while a few hours despondency and despair from order-givers of the crime, and it after the completion of the all those people that had fallen revealed once and for all the Socialists International’s sessions into by the loss of Dr. terrorist image of this regime to in , Dr. Sharafkandi and his Ghassemlou. At the meantime, the world public opinion. In this associates were discussing the he made the regime which way, it nullified all the regime’s circumstances of the country and believed with exterminating Dr. attempts to derail the procedures the need for further alliance of Ghassemlou, Democratic Party of the court or hijack public the Iranian forces with a number will demolish or face leadership opinion to escape the of Iranian opposition figures in a dilemma, confront another wave punishments of such an offence. restaurant, were attacked and of apprehension. Accordingly, Rather, this time it exposed the gunned down by several trained the regime in without terrorist regime’s true image of terrorists of Islamic Republic of learning a lesson from its past deceit with strong evidence and Iran (IRI) with the direct decree miscalculations, ordered the according to the decision of a and order of the highest elimination of Dr. Sharafkandi credible court in a European authorities of the regime. from its highest hierarchy, and country. The initiatives of almost Dr. Sharafkandi had taken conducted this terrorist act in all the countries of the European on the Party’s top position after Berlin by its sinful assassins. Union to recall their embassies in the assassination of Dr. The assassination of Dr. Tehran in reality was the Ghassemlou, then the Secretary- Sharafkandi, no doubts, resulted endorsement of the court’s general. In this position with his in a major loss for PDKI in verdict and admitting the ability and creativity, he very particular and the Kurdish regime’s terrorist nature. soon proved that he really resistance in general. It also led Tehran’s threats as a counter- deserved the succession of an to an enormous grief for the action to the verdict, despite enlightened and competent Kurdish nation, all the Iranian having effects on the position of leader such as Dr. Abdul Rahman freedom activists, and all the many of these countries, neither Ghassemlou. Dr. Sharafkandi in Party’s friends world wide. That affected the importance of the this imperative responsibility is why it has attracted such an verdict nor did it succeed in acted so intelligibly and extensive international reflection leaving the regime with any comprehensibly that in a short and coverage. honor or respect.

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Dr Sharafkandi democracy; still, he did observe that how firm the Party was a patriot and a not view the existing has stood on the difficult path of democrat who had a socialism without any struggle; furthermore, it has strong belief in short-coming, nor did he enjoyed such an international democracy. He accept the dictatorship and domestic prestige and regarded the struggle of proletariat. He credibility to the extent that it has of bringing democracy disagreed with some of become the trusted Party of all to Iran as the duty of the right-leaning leftist the people of Kurdistan. It is every citizen and every parties and the disappointing that the IRI despite Iranian freedom radicalism of some having a gloomy record of terror activist. He considered others. He never and terrorism, has not been cooperation and concealed such beliefs, treated and punished the way it solidarity among and he would openly should have been by the patriotic Iranian forces spell them out; as a international community at the as the key to the victory result, he played an era of the global war against of Iranian peoples and important role alongside terrorism; consequently, terror the defeat of despotism our legendary Kurdish and turmoil have not been ruling Iran. In this leader Dr. Ghassemlou abandoned by the regime, rather regard, he worked as to adopt “Democratic the forms have only changed. hard as he could, and Socialism” as the long- In regards to the unfortunately in the term objective of the appeasing policies of some course of this struggle Party. Such attributes countries in regards to the IRI, he sacrificed himself. had granted this leader the people of Iran especially in Dr. Sharafkandi, with such a the last few years have stepped with all of his heart, felt revolutionary and into struggle in different forms the oppression that the democratic image in the for the ousting of the despotic Kurdish people and real sense of the word. regime to replace it with a other peoples of Iran Dr Sharafkandi democratic one. Such a struggle had been facing, and was a political- and resistance is so much regarded the struggle intellectual character apparent that even the high aimed at eradicating who devoted his life ranking officials of the regime such an injustice as serving his nation; truth can not conceal their fretfulness legitimate. He had a and justice were the over the fragileness of their reign. firm belief in the rights attributes that this man Without any doubts, the of the peoples of Iran to was known for. It is broadening of such a struggle self-determination in the evident that the loss of a leader will realize the hopes of the framework of a democratic Iran. such as Dr. Sharafkandi for PDKI martyrs of freedom and it will for Meanwhile, he considered the and any patriotic Kurd is a major ever force the regime to retreat. Kurdish brothers and sisters in impairment. However, with the In the tenth anniversary other countries as part of a single loss of Dr. Sharafkandi, PDKI of Dr. Sharafkandi and his nation, and he would always once again proved this reality associates’ martyrdom, once keep the interests of the nation as that it can carry heavy wounds, again, we renew our pledges his priority even at the expense of but it would never bow to the with the souls of these the Party interests. enemy. It is a Party that can heal companions and all the martyrs Dr. Sharafkandi was a the loss of great leaders such as of Kurdistan that until the devoted democrat and an Ghassemlou and Sharafkandi attainment of their wills and experienced leader who with collective leadership to wishes, we remain faithful to supported social justice and prevent the realization of their objectives, and keep the flag opposed any sorts of regime’s cruel intentions. of PDKI still standing. discrimination. In the process of It is an honour that after establishing social justice, he 10 years of Dr. Sharafkandi’s believed in the values of social martyrdom, friends and foes can

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The Execution of Three Political Prisoners in Islamic Republic of Iran 12 October 2002 - According to the two statements Therefore, regardless of ethical and humanitarian of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan’s (PDKI) principles and standards in rejecting executions, abolishing Political Bureau, Hamza GHADERI, Khalid SHOWGHI and death penalty is essential for the attainment of freedom of Jalil ZEWAYEE, all members of PDKI, after spending years consciousness, religion and expression in brining social and in prison have been hanged within the last week, and their political democracy. It is not a coincidence that one of the bodies have been returned to their families with one preconditions of joining the European Union is the condition that their burials take place quietly without any abolishment of death penalty. public ceremonies. The League along with condemning these inhuman The execution of Hamza GHADERI, Khalid and filthy actions, and above all the execution of Hamza SHOWGHI and Jalil ZEWAYEE takes place in circumstances GHADERI, Khalid SHOWGHI and Jalil ZEWAYEE, that during their years of imprisonment no information has demands the release of all political prisoners and the renewal been available about their trials and convictions and as the of the trial of all prisoners who have been predestined to result, the League for the Defense of Human Rights in Iran death without having access to a just tribunal conforming to and the international organizations defending human rights the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other have been unaware of their detainment. international standards of civil and political rights. The The execution of these political prisoners one week League also calls upon the international organizations after the public execution of five convicts with ordinary defending human rights and international institutions, offences, once again ascertained this historical-political particularly the United Nations Human Rights Commission reality that carrying out mass public executions have always and European Parliament and Union to take necessary been used as a cloak for political executions, and the measures to force the government of Islamic Republic of Iran persistence of oppressive and self-interested states for the to comply with these demands. continuance and existence of execution has to do with the fact that it can be used as an instrument of terror, oppression Abdul-Karim Lahiji and strangulation. It is enough to compare the political terror The League for the Defense of Human Rights in Iran and executions in Iran with the number of executions related to ordinary offences in the last two decades. PDKI’s Political Bureau statement PDKI’s International Relations Bureau concerning recent executions in Iran statement on the execution of a Kurdish 15 October 2002 political prisoner in Iran Following the statements issued by our Party on the 9 & 11 of this month (October 2002), concerning the execution , 10 October 2002 of three activists and members of our Party, we were informed that another member of our Party, Saleh In a release published on 9 October 2002, the political GODARZI, aged 39, was executed by the headsmen of the Bureau of our Party informed the general public of the Islamic Regime of Iran in the prison of Sanandaj (Iranian execution of a member of our Party Mr. Hamzeh GHADERI Kurdistan) in the early morning of 13 October 2002. on 7 October 2002, by the regime of the Islamic Republic of Saleh, a resident of a village in the suburb of Kamyaran Iran. (Iranian Kurdistan), joined our Party in the wake of the Mr. Ghaderi was born in the city of Sardasht (Iranian Islamic Republic’s reign on power. However, due to a set of Kurdistan), and was arrested in 1997 by the regime on the troubles besetting his family, he had to leave the ranks of the grounds of “becoming member of PDKI”. After a sham trial, Party, giving himself up to the local authorities of the regime he was sentenced to death. After spending over five years in so that he could resume his civilian life. He was arrested and the sinister prisons of the Iranian regime and being subjected brutally tortured. Though, having been freed from prison, to torture and inhuman treatments, he was executed at he was constantly being prosecuted by local security agents dawn on 7 October 2002. and officials and other oppressive organs of the regime. According to the information we have received from In 1999, while he was working in Teheran, he was once Iranian Kurdistan, the lives of about ten other Kurdish again arrested and sent back to prison. After a while, he was political prisoners who were sentenced to death are returned to Sanandaj prison, where he was unjustly threatened; not to mention hundreds of other Kurdish condemned to death and eventually executed on the political prisoners who have been sentenced to long prison aforesaid date. terms. While strictly condemning this inhuman action of the We condemn this crime of the Islamic Republic of regime, Political Bureau sincerely expresses its most heartfelt Iran, and call upon all human rights organisations, in condolences to the honourable family of the martyred, to his particular the United Nations Human Rights Commission relatives and the people of Kamyaran in particular, and the and Amnesty International to strongly condemn this Kurdish people in general, expecting at the same time of heinous crime and take urgent measures to save the lives of international human rights organizations to condemn such other prisoners. criminal acts of Islamic Republic so that they would refrain from perpetrating such cruel acts.

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TThhee TTrraaggeeddyy ooff BBeeiiiiiinngg KKuurrdd iiiiiinn IIIIIIrraann Dr. Ali-Reza Nourizadeh

THE Kurds in Iran, regime. All the Iranian ethnic the people of Kurdistan against despite groups are faced with the previous regime in Iran, was being the oppression and injustice by a hopeful some of its pioneers of regime identified with beard fundamental demands would the first and turban, but their Kurdness be met within the framework of Iranian along with their Sunnism, a the new regime in Iran, so kingdom, religious sect different from the Kurds could at least play a role and the official Shiite sect can make the in conducting the affairs of Medes era considered being the Kurds of Iran an apparent Kurdistan. However, Ayatollah start of civilization, and unlike enemy. An Iranian Azeri is Khomeini did not even respect Turkey where Kurds are called subjugated as mush as a the will of the people of “the mountainous Turks”, no Persian, Loristani, Gillani or Kurdistan when he prevented one in Iran has dared to make kirmanshahi because an Azeri is Dr. Ghassemlou, the elected such insulting remarks a Shiite so there is no doubt in representative of the region to concerning the Kurds in Iran, his/her Islamism, but Kurds, participate in the assembly of Kurds have been suppressed by Baluchis, Turkamans and experts’ first meeting (the far more than any other Iranian Talishis and all the Sunnis of council in charge of drafting the nationalities. western Iran have special first constitution, and now in Despite this, never in the circumstances. In general, charge of electing the supreme pages of Iranian history, even because Kurds among other leader). The Ayatollah made during the most oppressive Iranian ethnic groups have been unexpected attacks on Dr. periods on the regional more politically active, first due Ghassemlou and the Party in authorities in the Reza Shah era to their integration with the the first gathering of the in the early decades of the national movements of Kurds in assembly. With the decree of twentieth century where other parts of Kurdistan, and the Ayatollah, the full scale extraordinary injustice was secondly in Iran, Kurds relative attacks of the revolutionary inflicted upon Kurds, they have to other ethnic groups in the last guards started against Kurdish never faced so much oppression century have been more people, and in the cities of as the last two decades of mass autonomous, and even Mahabad, Paveh, Sanandaj, and killings and cultural alienation. following the World War Two, other cities and villages of To prove this bitter reality, it is they established an autonomous Kurdistan, waves of bloodshed enough to shed some light on republic. Since then, it has spread. In the city of Paveh, the number of dead either from nurtured those such as Dr. following the troops’ entry into military aggression or the city, the revolutionary executions and assassinations who have played an important guards would tie up civilian carried out by the intelligence role in the equality movement Kurds to their walls and apparatus of the Islamic and struggle; therefore, they windows group by group, and Republic of Iran in the last 23 have been more suspicious in they would rain their bodies years; furthermore, add the the eyes of the central with bullets. segregated and torn-apart governments in Iran especially You all have seen the families, then you will realize to the Islamic Republic of Iran. photos that I had taken out of that the crack-down on Kurds Following the Iranian Iran in the August of 1979, and in an organized and well- Revolution, Democratic Party of given them to the English and planned scheme has been one of Kurdistan that had a French media, where in it two the strategic objective of this considerable and effective role brothers of my Friend, Farhad in organizing and instigating Rashidian were shot dead in the

NUMBER 4, NOVEMBER 2002 PAGE 5

airport of Sanandaj. Dr. Several weeks ago, Ali- who have chosen an Islamic Ghassemlou later told me that Aga Muhammadi, the deputy of epithet instead of Iran. It is these pictures revealed the true Iran radio television and special puzzling, that a political image of Ayatollah Khomeini’s advisor to the supreme leader in organization whose principal regime, and the international Iraqi Kurdish and Shiite slogan is Democracy for Iran community soon realized that opposition affairs, after a trip to and Autonomy for Kurdistan, another Gandhi had not Baghdad and talks and kisses must prove its conviction with emerged, but rather the with Saddam’s deputy and juriscouncil to prove its tragedies of Hitler and Stalin several other ministries, in his Iranianism from the perspective had been repeated. The regime return report to the higher of the regime’s officials, while in Iran never took into account officials, he expressed his they choose an alien Iraqi as the number of concepts such as concerns about the attempts of head of judiciary and no one historical importance, Kurds to establish a federal questions where he has geographical location and a Iraq. He also pointed out that obtained his identity card. common devotion for a land in the Kurds of Iran especially the When Khatami regards to Kurds. From appointed Abdullah the perspective of the Ramazanzadeh, a half leader of the regime, Kurdish specialist in the Kurds are those Sunni field of ethnology from infidels who believe in the Belgian university as Omar and the injustices the governor of inflicted upon Fatima, Kurdistan province, it the daughter of the was expected that things Prophet Muhammad. have changed in The same Kurdistan; however, thinking was dominant very soon, on those who Ramazanzadeh was assassinated Dr. Mass execution in Kurdistan, early 1980s recalled to Tehran and Ghassemlou in Vienna he almost ended up in with the order of divine leader Democratic Party of Kurdistan the notorious Avin prison of the regime and its have allied with the Kurds of because contrary to the wishes intelligence minister Ali Iraq to establish a broader of supreme leader and his Fallahian who following the Kurdish authority. mercenaries and guards in prayer sharpen their swords Immediately after the report, Kurdistan, he was committed and load their pistols. The three members of PDKI who that the local officials must be killers of Dr. Sadegh had been held in prison for a utilized for conducting the Sharafkandi, - Dr. Ghassemlou’s long period of time were affairs of Kurdistan. Today, successor - and his associates in executed. Kurdistan is under the siege of the Mykonous Restaurant in Years ago, when the revolutionary guards and the Berlin, whether the Lebanese conformitists and the ruling control of intelligence corps. who prayed towards the shrine elite in Iran accused Kurds of The most Iranian of Iranians, of supreme leader of Iran or separatism, Dr. Ghassemlou meaning Kurds, under those several Iranian declared that whoever doubts excessive oppression and with conductors and organizers, all the Iranianism of Kurds in Iran, all the pains and wounds, they believed that by taking a few should come and see who is still cry out “Democracy for more lives, they will be more Iranian than us; we who Iran, Autonomy for Kurdistan”. rewarded with a larger share in have established the first This was Dr. Nourizadeh’s speech in the civilization in Iran, or those French Parliament honouring Dr. heaven. Sharafkandi’s 10th anniversary.

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Secretary-general’s Letter to the Council of Europe’s External Relations Office on the EU Human Rights Dialogue with Iran

Honourable Mr. Chris Patten, European Union (EU) Commissioner for External Relations Honourable Mr. Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Dear friends, Now that the European Union is scheduled to start dialogue with the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran in December, allow me to draw your attention to these points: 1- It is an honour and pleasure for me and every patriotic and freedom-eager Iranian that the EU is determined to bond dialogue with Iran on economic and commercial matters with dialogue on human rights and fight against terrorism, and prevent economic interests to become the basis for overlooking the systematic violation of democratic freedom and human rights in Iran. 2- More than 10 millions Kurds live in Iran that more than 7 millions of them live on the soil of their ancestors, the Iranian Kurdistan. The Kurds of Iran are deprived from all of their national rights; for instance, the right of studying in Kurdish, governing the Kurdish region via their elected representatives, and having a just and equal representation in central government are among a few. The legitimate struggle of this nation to attain its rights equal to other citizens has always been branded as separatism by the Iranian officials and suppressed ferociously. Currently, a large number of Kurds are in the prisons of the Islamic Republic of Iran guilty of their persistence for the legitimate rights of their nation, some faced with execution verdicts that just only in the last two months, several of them were carried out. 3- Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan that struggles for more than 57 years for the attainment of the legitimate rights of the Kurdish nation in Iranian Kurdistan, to achieve its principal objective “Democracy for Iran, autonomy for Kurdistan” has always supported peaceful solutions; in general, this Party has rejected any forms of extremism to resolve internal, regional and international disputes.

Hence, on behalf of PDKI and all the people of this part of Kurdistan, I call upon you that in dialogue with the Islamic Republic officials do not disregard the important aspect of human rights that is related to the fate of millions of Iranians. We ask you to pressure the Iranian officials for the recognition of national rights of Kurdish people and other nationalities of Iran (Azeris, Baluchis, Turkmand, Arabs and etc…) to accomplish your holy mission as envoys of democracy and defender of justice and human rights. No doubts that resolving nationalistic demands in Iran and else-where can assist world peace stability, and eradicate terrorism as contemporary daunting world predicaments. It is clear that many terrorist activities are conducted against human beings either to contain the oppressed nations or in the name of defending the oppressed people. I will remind you that the subjugated people of Iran especially the Kurdish population view the results of EU dialogue with the Islamic Republic of Iran with hope and optimism; I wish that you do not disappoint these people eager for peace and freedom.

Most respectfully yours, Abdullah Hassanzadeh, Secretary-general of democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan

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EU to launch rights dialogue with Iran LUXEMBOURG - AFP: The European visits to Iran by UN human rights envoys would Union will launch a path-breaking dialogue on also take place "over the coming months". human rights with Iran in December in a bid to Outside the Luxembourg talks, several shore up embattled reformists in the Islamic hundred Iranian protestors sought EU backing republic, officials said Monday. The 15-nation EU against the death penalty in their homeland. The is seeking to reinforce its political and economic protestors, kept back by police, staged fake interests in Iran through the unprecedented hangings in a nearby car park. Calling for "urgent dialogue, despite the country being labelled by the action" from the EU, they brandished placards United States as part of an "axis of evil". "The urging the bloc to present a strong resolution in European Union wants this critical dialogue really the United Nations condemning Iran's record on to get results," Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller of rights. But the Danish minister said the EU would Denmark, which holds the EU presidency, said. not be tabling a UN resolution, explaining "we'll "There are no preconditions," he told a news give the dialogue a chance". conference after talks among EU foreign ministers "If another country outside the European here. "We want the reformists of the Iranian Union is going to table a resolution, then the 15 society to be helped by the European Union. They members of the European Union will look at that are the majority of the country." resolution and find a common position," Moeller The launch of the dialogue has faced hurdles in said. EU foreign ministers said instead "the EU forging a consensus in both the EU and Iranian will convey its deep concern at the serious camps as well as fierce US resistance. Besides the violations of human rights and the lack of opposition from Washington, the EU's embrace of progress in a number of areas" in the UN. These Iran has met with resistance from hardline included violations of freedom of expression and elements in the Islamic republic opposed to the association, "and systematic discrimination reformist policies of President Mohammad against women and girls, as well as against Khatami. minorities", the ministers said in a statement after But EU External Affairs Commissioner Chris their talks in Luxembourg. Also of concern were Patten confirmed: "We'll be holding the first round use of the death penalty "and particularly cruel of the human rights dialogue with Iran in Tehran forms of execution such as stoning". in December." Patten said he hoped planned

PDKI Politburo’s Appeal to United Nations’ Human Rights Commission on the recent executions of Kurds in Iran Dear Sir/Madam, Regarding the Islamic Republic’s intensification of its obstinate actions, you are most courteously informed herewith that in resent days a new wave of executing political prisoners has been resumed in Iran. Among those executed were four members of our Party: 1- Hamzeh Ghaderi, from Sardasht, 2- Jalil Zewa-ee, from Sardasht, 3- Khalid Showghi, from a village in the suburb of Urumieh, 4- Salah Goodarzi, from Kamyaran They were executed on the 6-13 October 2002, the most disgusting fact being that some of the executed had spent their periods of conviction in prison. Besides, death penalties have been issued against some other prisoners who are in sheer danger of execution. Taking cognizance of the danger threatening the lives of yet greater numbers of political prisoners in Iran, your objection against the demeanour of the Iranian authorities and applying pressure on them might dissuade them from executing other political prisoners.

Most Respectfully Yours, Political Bureau of Democratic Bureau Party of Iranian Kurdistan 25 October 2002

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News & ACTIVITIES:ACTIVITIES:

Victims of regime’s aggression and Kurdish issues and local concerns, according to Qavami, but the judiciary cited national-security brutality concerns and said such news excites the locals. It is not ›››››The so-called security forces of the regime gunned just reformist publications that carry special down two people in the Sardasht region. The victims inserts. "Jam-i Jam," which is affiliated with the official were identified as Tofiq Suri, and Salam Abdullahzadah and hard-liner-headed IRIB, every Wednesday carries from the village of ‘Moraghan’ a suburb of Sardasht an eight-page, full-color insert that is dedicated to (Iranian Kurdistan). The bodies were returned to their Kurdistan Province and will families but with the condition that they must be continue to be allowed to do so. Qavami speculated buried at night without any public ceremonies. that the judiciary wants "Jam-i Jam" to be the ›››››The body of Yassin Anvari, the son of Jamli Mala dominant publication in the local press. Karim from the village of ‘Tarkhan’ a suburb of the city of Baneh was found. He was a well-known and Iran's Kurdistan province "safest" in respected individual. It is not known who was behind this killing and why; however, this was the third country: Lari slaughter of this sort in the month of August only. TEHRAN, Oct 24 (AFP) - Iran's interior minister said Previously the bodies of Mohsin Mustafazadeh (who in remarks published Thursday that Kurdistan was brutally tortured and murdered) and Ata province was the "safest in the country", just days after Chawshin were found. Kurdistan region in Iran being a rebel group in the area was blamed for killing a under the complete control of the regime’s thugs can Revolutionary Guard officer. be an easy target of such murderous attacks. The killing of Saleh Sharifi in Iranian Kurdistan was blamed on the separatist Kurdish group Komala, ›››››According to news obtained from ‘KURDISTAN’ which has been largely inactive since 1986 after being the vigilant forces of the regime attacked a merchant crushed by security forces. caravan, and as the result a man named ‘Said Hashem The minister, Abdolvahed Musavi Lari, denied the Mahmoudi’ 23 years old and son of Sayed Sadegh from group had returned to militant activities, saying "there the village of ‘Khor-Khora’ suburb of Salmas (Iranian is no tension in Kurdistan," and that the province is Kurdistan) was killed. His offence was that he carried "the safest in the country", in remarks published in the a 30 meter fabric to sustain his family’s daily needs. Seday-e Edalat daily. ›››››TEHRAN, Dec. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Two people have Musavi Lari did not comment on the murder, though been killed in a mine explosion which occurred in the government spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh, the outskirts of a village in Iran's western Kurdestan province's former governor, said on Wednesday an Province, the IRNA news agency reported on investigation was underway. Monday. The two were on their way to visit their Iran is worried about the revival of separatist relatives in Kokh NivehKhan village when they sentiments among its six million strong Kurdish approached the mine and the blast occurred. Dozens minority in the event of a US attack on neighboring of others have been killed or wounded in the border Iraq, which could see Kurds in northern Iraq gain city from mine explosions in past years. independence or autonomy from Baghdad. The Komala and the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran are the two main Kurdish rebel groups active KURDISTAN PROVINCE PRESS FACES within the Islamic Republic. LIMITATIONSLIMITATIONS?!?! After briefly allying themselves with the emerging RFE/RL - Hiwa Qavami, a reporter from the government after the 1979 revolution, the rebels were Kurdistan Province town of Sanandaj, told RFE/RL's ruthlessly crushed by the security forces, particularly Persian service on 12 November that the local the Revolutionary Guards, in the 1980s. judiciary has banned local newspaper distributors from carrying special inserts from reformist PDKI delegation led by the SecretSecretaryaryary-- publications like "Hayat-i No" and "Iran." The reason for this is that the inserts contained a great deal of general visits UNHRC headquarters news about the On the 8 October 2002, a PDKI delegation government's activities and were also geared toward headed by Secretary-general was greeted by Jiani

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Magzini, the Commission’s second in charge and delegation was greeted by Mistafa Hijri, Hassan Terressa Alberog the Commission’s Asia region chief Rastigar, Hassan Sharafi and Hussien Madani at the Commission’s headquarters in Geneva. Both members of Politburo and a number of leadership sides stressed on the need for the UN special human council. rights investigator to Iran. Mr. Magzini added that Madam Mitterrand was in Iraqi Kurdistan to attend despite the Commission’s decision to remove Iran the reopening of the Iraqi Kurdish Parliament on the from the list of countries under the Commission’s 4th of October, first such meeting in 6 years. scrutiny, the Commission continues to pressure the government in Iran via other channels to respect A European delegation visits the PDKI human rights. In other sessions of the meeting, the PDKI delegation Secretariat pointed out that the Commission needs to address the A European delegation composed of Mr. violations of human rights in Iran in the framework of Montesquiu, national demands, and requested that the Commission a French must not limit its activities to the violations of Senator and a individual rights and pay more attention to the member of political aspects of the issue of human rights and the European demands of our people. Parliament In the last part of the meeting, the condition of and Mr. political prisoners who are under execution order was Neudeck the discussed. The PDKI delegation also pointed out the director of rights of Iranian Kurdish refugees living in Iraq and the German Turkey and presented several recommendations in Foundation “Cup Anamor” and number of reporters this regard. and photographers visited the Politburo headquarters in Koi-Sanjaq, Iraqi Kurdistan on Saturday, 19 October PDKI Delegate Visits Canadian Foreign 2002. They were greeted by a leadership delegate consisting of Mistafa Hijri, Hassan Rastigar and Office Hassan Sharafi Politburo members and Fatah Kaveyan A PDKI delegation composed of Sharif and Omar Balaki, members of Central Committee. Behruz, Director of Public Relation in Canada along The two delegations in a three hour meeting discussed with Vali Dolatkhahi, a PDKI member, met a variety of issues concerning Kurds and the region, Christopher Hull, the head of Iran and Iraq section in and exchanged views in these regards. the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. In this meeting a number of PDKI Secretary-Secretary-generalgeneral met Karl issues such as Iran-Canada relations, human rights PDKI Secretary-general met Karl concerns and the conditions of Kurds in Iran were Schramek, the Austrian Ambassador to discussed. the Organization for EuEuropeanropean Security,

development and Cooperation Madam Mitterrand visits again Abdullah Hassanzadeh, the Secretary-general, Madam Mitterrand, the wife of the former met Karl Schramek the Austrian ambassador in the French Organization for European Security, Development President and Cooperation in 4 October 2002. In this meeting, Francois Jalil Gadani, member of Central Committee and Mitterrand Khosrow Abdullahi, PDKI International Relation chief and the head were also present. of the ‘Librete In this friendly visit, both sides exchanged views on Foundation’ the region’s circumstances. On the Kurdish issue as and an old an important regional matter, Dr. Schramek insisted Kurdish that without a just solution to the issue, a permanent friend peace in the region is impossible. Dr. Schramek also accompanied expressed his support for rational and realistic policies by Kandal of PDKI. Nazan the head of the Kurdish Institute in Paris visited the Politburo of PDKI on 5 October. The

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Messages of Solidarity Honourable leadership of the German Socialist Party, The honourable leadership of the Green Party of Germany, Dear comrades, In the recent parliamentary elections, the Social Democrats Your Party obtained a considerable success in the emerged as the victorious party and the voters put their faith parliamentary elections. In this regard, on behalf of PDKI, I in the Party once again to renew its mandate for another congratulate you and wish you further success. term in power. On behalf of PDKI, on this occasion, I We hope your empowered Party endeavour further for congratulate you, and I hope that Germany led by freedom and peace and the legitimate rights of Kurdish Chancellor “Gerhard Schroder” will strive further for global nation in the future. peace and freedom, and also for the rights of oppressed With sincere regards, people, among them Kurds. Yours sincerely, Abdullah Hassanzadeh, Abdullah Hassanzadeh Secretary-general of PDKI Secretary-general of PDKI ------Abdullah Hassanzadeh, PDKI Secretary-general Dear Abdullah Hassanzadeh, Dear Secretary-general Thanks for your admiring message on the results of German On behalf of Claudia Roth, I thank you for your parliamentary elections. The new government continues its congratulatory message for the successful results of German successful reform programs; internationally, we declare our parliamentary elections. duties for establishing and preserving political and social We were able to reach our main objectives in the latest stability world wide. We continue our struggle for peace parliamentary election and obtain more than 8 percent of the assignments against terrorism. popular vote. We are the third German political party, and SPD will strive continuously in the future for the attainment we try to pursue the policies of modernizing our country by of the full and equal rights of all Kurds politically, establishing ties with other parties. economically and culturally in the countries concerned. We will struggle to obtain the programs of the Green Party The responsibilities are cumbersome; no country or in the next four years, and maintain the government of red organization can implement them alone. We count on the and green. solidarity and cooperation of many close friends. Berlin Axim Post The office of Ms. Claudia Roth Responsible for International Relations Michiel Kwliner

The SIMEC Working Group on the Kurdish Question held a meeting in the context of a seminar organised by the Olof Palme Foundation on "National Minorities, Regional Self Government and Democracy in Iraq, Iran and Turkey", on 26-27 August 2002 in Sweden. At the meeting, representatives of the SAP (Sweden), SPÖ (Austria), SPD (Germany), PS (France) as well as the KDP (Iran), HADEP (Turkey), PUK (Iraq), KDP (Iraq) and Komala (Iran) were present, also invited was the CHP (Turkey). The SIMEC Working Group took note of the further improved cooperation between the KDP and PUK in Iraqi Kurdistan, and supported the demands of the Kurdish people in Iraq to achieve a United Democratic Federal Iraq. Condemning repression, ethnic cleansing and all kinds of terrorism, such as Ansar al-Islam in Iraq, as well as in the whole Middle East region, the SIMEC Working Group further expressed its support for the Iraqi people in its wish for change. On the basis of the relevant UN Resolutions, the community of states should work together to support the aspiration towards a democratic and federal Iraq, respecting human rights and the rule of law. At the same time the SIMEC Working Group stressed that building a future Iraq should be the responsibility of the different components of the Iraqi people and avoid any kind of regional interference. The SIMEC Working Group urged European Governments and political parties especially to contribute responsibly to finding solutions to the Iraqi issues and the other burning conflicts in the Middle East. The SIMEC Working Group took note with satisfaction of the recent reform legislation in Turkey and considered it an important step in strengthening relations between EU and Turkey. It encouraged Turkey to continue in this way, especially in implementing and applying this new legislation, guaranteeing fair elections in November, and in supplementing the reform legislation by a general amnesty for Kurdish and human rights activists to allow them to take part constructively in the political process. The SIMEC Working Group further welcomed the decision to recommend HADEP be admitted as a new member in the SI family. The SIMEC Working Group took note of developments in Iran, and encouraged all forces in favour of democracy and human rights to continue the way of change and reform. In this context it underlined the necessity of finding a solution to the Iranian- Kurdish issue, which respects these values. The SIMEC Working Group appreciates the realistic standpoints taken by the KDP in Iran on this matter.

NUMBER 4, NOVEMBER 2002 PAGE 11

Iran's new debate: Theocracy versus secularism

By Guy Dinmore in Tehran - Published: Financial Times, November 20 2002

It is a sign of how nervous state broadcaster also controlled blind eye when thugs set upon the Iranian authorities are by hardliners, has its own spin, demonstrators returning home becoming after a dozen days of reporting on "illegal gatherings" from their campuses. About student protests, that a small by "so-called students". 1,500 students affiliated to the gaggle of middle-aged These vented their anger Basij held their own counter-rally monarchists in central Tehran can at Modarres University, where in Tehran University on Tuesday trigger a full-scale police alert. the condemned academic, in support of Ayatollah Ali Scores of police, some in riot Hashemi Aghajari, used to teach, Khamenei, the supreme leader gear, encircled Revolution Square by setting upon an IRIB who has come under fire from late on Tuesday, moving cameraman, ripping open his the reformist students. pedestrians on and even using a tape and sending the contents The Basiji students did vacated bank premises as a flying like a streamer. But more not impress with their numbers, temporary lock-up. serious pressure is coming from bused in from different colleges, But so far they are the increasing acts of violence against but the message was blunt, a only ones answering the language of religious rather plaintive and commitment, of threats, ineffectual appeals by and warnings of collusion opposition satellite by foreign enemies. television stations, based in "Martyrdom is our the US, for the Iranian honour," bearded men people to take to the streets chanted from the right, against their Islamic echoed by ranks of women regime. Nonetheless, while wrapped in black chadors, the Iranian people are segregated to the left. If the watching from the relevant ministers or sidelines, it is becoming university chancellors did evident that campus rallies not restore campus order, across the country are entering a students by the Basij, an Islamist their statement said, then the new and more radical stage. The militia, and the shadowy Basijis would. "Our red line is outcome, politicians warn, could hardmen of Ansar-e-Hezbollah the Leadership," proclaimed be dangerous. who ride unchallenged on Mohammad Sarshar from the Pressure from hardliners motorbikes without licence podium, referring to Ayatollah on the students to give up their plates. Students at Tehran's Khamenei. "The world should protests is being brought to bear Allameh Tabatabayi University know that breaking these lines from all sides, but it has only on Wednesday abandoned a will cost a huge price." encouraged a radical few. The planned rally when they found Conservatives are hardline judiciary, which extremists waiting for them. This frustrated that pro-reform rallies triggered the protests by week, hardliners have attacked have continued, despite the sentencing to death an outspoken and broken up rallies in several supreme leaders attempt to academic for apostasy, has cities, including Tehran, Ahwaz restore calm by ordering the ordered local journalists not to and Yassuj. Several students have judiciary to review Mr Aghajaris give detailed reports on the landed in hospital. A pro-reform sentence. But at the same time as campus demos. MP was also assaulted. the Basijis were gathering, Mustafa Moin, minister Police forces, which have reformists at Modarres for higher education, has bowed stayed mainly neutral, are University were taking up even to the conservatives and urged showing less interest in more radical chants, criticising the students to relent. IRIB, the protecting students, turning a the supreme leader, but also

PAGE 12 NUMBER 4, NOVEMBER 2002

Mohammad Khatami, the the main student union, is of repression, has led to a lack of moderate president whose public concerned that events are moving coordination and clarity in the silence has angered once faithful out of control. "I think if the protests. The OFU demands Mr supporters. pressures continue like this, then Aghajaris unconditional release "Khatamis silence is student actions will get more from prison, but other students treason for the nation," some radical and will not follow a insist all political prisoners be shouted. Mr Khatami has been logical path anymore," he told the freed and have extended the unable to capitalise on the FT. "They are creating an agenda to political reform in student movement, to push intimidating atmosphere to push general. through his own stalled agenda the student movement back to its At the same time, the lack of political reforms, out of fear passivity. These sort of things of central leadership has given that hardliners would stage a will not be useful for them. the movement more vitality, repeat of their bloody especially in the provinces. crackdown on student Mohammad-Reza Khatami, protests in 1999, which led brother of the president and to widespread rioting. leader of the largest The sense of parliamentary party, has also looming confrontation is warned conservatives that seen in changing dress- students are losing hope in codes. Some of the young "the system", coded language men and women have meaning the debate is donned rebellious-looking shifting away from religious headbands and mask their dictatorship versus religious faces. In a way, it is a piece democracy, to one of of theatre and they know that Yesterday at Modarres you saw theocracy versus secularism. their numbers are relatively small that despite all the restrictions, Nonetheless, the clerics in control 5,000 or so at the biggest rally to students jumped over the fences are signalling that a crackdown is date but the radical intent is to get in and the slogans were in the making. National Basij there. more radical than before." The week kicks off with a march on Abdullah Momeni, a weakness of the OFU, which has Saturday outside the former US member of the central council of not recovered from the arrest of embassy. Martyrdom in the the Office to Foster Unity (OFU), its leaders and the 1999 summer defence of Islam is their motto.

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Back Page Story Headline D EMOCRATIC P ARTY of of I RANIAN K URDISTAN Photo by: Rasool Nafisi Nafisi Rasool by: Photo Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or so- cial origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sov- ereignty. Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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