Noam Chomsky points North Ireland model for Kurdish problem

• By Patrick Mac Manus-International Peace and Conflict
• 11/10/2010 00:00:00

Noam Chomsky says the North Ireland peace process can be a model for solution of the Kurdish problem. Chomsky — a world-renowned linguist and professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Richard Falk and other academics, intellectuals and journalists met this weekend at Istanbul Bilgi University for the 7th annual "Gathering in Istanbul for Freedom of Expression."
In an interview for ANF Turkish Service Chomsky said the success of North Ireland peace process can be a model for the solution of the Kurdish problem. He pointed out some recent positive developments on Kurdish issue but warned that more needed to be done. He said that he supports the process and called for support of political and civil powers. Chomsky said that Kurdish problem can be solved by carefully examining Irish and Spanish models. He said that all sides should listen to each other, understand their needs and show every effort to reach to a satisfying solution for both sides. Chomsky also said that he supports a general amnesty for Kurdish guerillas.
One of the prominent linguistics of the world Chomsky said the Turkish governments denial of education in mother language is a sign of insincerity. "There are television and radio channels in Kurdish but the prohibitation of education in Kurdish is totally unacceptable" he said. Chomsky critisized U.S. for its role in the war between Turkey and the PKK reminding that Washington was the leading provider of arms to Turkey during the war. He also accused U.S. press institutions which has offices in Turkey of auto-censorship saying the events in Turkey is not covered in a neutral manner by the U.S. press. He said that U.S. is an ally to Turkey and supports Ankara in every manner. He reminded the support of Washington regime during Saddam era when Kurds were massacred with chemical weapons and called Kurds to always remember what happened. "U.S. was never a friend to Kurdish people. Kurds should understand this. Kurds has no friends but the mountains. They should remember this,” he said.
Noam Chomsky points North Ireland model for Kurdish problem

• By Patrick Mac Manus-International Peace and Conflict
• 11/10/2010 00:00:00

one milion signatures, campaign demanding change

Mr. Azad Moradian's speach on the KNCNA 22nd Annual Conference, San Diego State University, California June 2010:

Kurdish National Congress of North America: Strategy and Tactic for a new era

Dear President of KNC,
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Thank you for attending KNCNA’s 22^nd annual conference. I congratulate the board of advisers, board of directors, members, and the supporters of the KNCNA on the 22nd anniversary of excellent work for the promotion of the Kurdish issues in the North America. I hope that the 22nd conference will be able to successfully reach its goals as it has always done. Every year we gather to reflect on our progress thus far, bring awareness to current issues pertaining to Kurds and Kurdistan, and outline how to move forward.

In the short time that I have with you today I want to take a look at two very important aspects of any organization: strategy and tactic.

Strategy is defined as the overall campaign plan or goal of an institution. This is often confused with tactic.

When KNC-NA was established by a group of distinguished intellectuals following the 1988 chemical bombings of Halabja and the subsequent massacre of the Kurds in Northern Iraq, they agreed to mobilize under the slogan of a United Kurdistan. They were catalyzed by genocide and remained primarily focused on this region for the next decade or so. Some of the objectives of KNC as quoted directly from our website were: “Unite Kurds living in North America to work for common goals, to promote the idea of a United Free Kurdistan, and to strengthen the voice of all Kurds living in the USA and Canada.”

As with all strategy, this overall goal involves complex operational patterns, activity, and decision-making that lead to tactical execution. Tactics are then defined as the actual means used to gain the objective or strategies previously decided on.

Although the founders of KNC-NA envisioned an organization, which pays equal tribute to all Kurds regardless of geographic location, it seems that throughout the years, the primary focus of this establishment has been Iraqi Kurdistan.

This has perhaps been due to the makeup of KNC’s leadership, the historical events at the moment, and the geopolitical importance of Iraqi Kurdistan during the 1990’s and then during the US led war in Iraq.

The tactics that KNC has used to promote the Kurdish agenda has been to be a voice for the victims of Halabja and Anfal, as well as strengthen ties between Kurds in dispora and the governments in our host countries. This can be seen as strategically wise for KNC because this organization was able to work on the issues most historically urgent for Kurds as well as most newsworthy.

The leaders and founders were able to establish themselves as an authority on current events regarding Kurds and political movements in the region and have been consulted by various agencies.

Another reason why KNC might not have been able to focus on other parts of Kurdistan might have been lack of expertise. This is understandable considering our sheer numbers in North America. We are a very small minority here and have yet to establish a truly educated and organized community. We must be realistic on our outlook. With a population of 300 million in the United States alone and a vast landscape stretching from coast to coast, 20,000 Kurds will have a very difficult time coming together and bringing their talents to form a well-rounded minority group.

This country is also made up of many diverse minority populations, all with their own demands. In order for Kurds in diaspora to be recognized as a minority with a unique history and specific needs, much more must be done. KNCNA can play a very crucial role in this. However, in order to do this our tactics must be current. Our strategy will always be focused on what our founders had in mind but tactics and alliances might need to be reconsidered and then executed.

I believe KNC has an even bigger role to play. The events taking place in the Middle East today will have a direct impact on Kurds, not only in the region, but also on those of us living in diaspora.

The potential to make an impact on policies and lives of Kurds are enormous. All of this has to be done with a fresh outlook.

We cannot continue to use the same tactics we have used in past to move towards our strategy of serving all Kurds. Today Kurds in Turkey, Syria and Iran face serious threats and need the attention of the international community more than ever. Just as in the 1990’s when KNC brought the western communities’ attention to Iraqi Kurdistan;

We now have the potential to zoom in on these regions. We must have the right leadership with such vision, as well as the right connections. We cannot have biased opinions about working with opposition groups or other ethnic minorities in the region, and must redefine what it means to live as a Free Kurd in place like Iran or Turkey.

With all smart goals and strategic planning, an organization must move with the times. It is important for our organization to look at our tactics and find more innovative ways to sail towards our strategy of a United Kurdistan.

Like any other successful organization, KNC needs to be able to self-evaluate and adapt to the new geopolitics of the Kurdish region. Any delay in the systematic reexamination of KNC’s tactics may cause an adjustment disorder similar to any system and phenomena. In fact, ignoring the new system of the region is like ignoring the needs of our people who are working in the grassroots level and can be costly.

Turkey moves towards cultural freedom, while Iraq is moving towards federalism. Although the situation is Iran been bleaker the overall consensus is that the focus should be on Human Rights of Kurds first and foremost. In Syria, the recognition of Kurds as a citizen is one of the most significant issues today. None of these means a derailment from a Free United Kurdistan. Rather these are tactics and diplomatic maneuvering.

During the years after the fall of the Soviet Union, borders were carved up and nations were formed; however, today the international community is not interested in nationalism and state formation, but rather in democratization and standardization of rights. Any deviation from this agenda comes of as extremism.

Unfortunately, in a brief analysis of KNCNA’s work in the past few years, one can see a strong indication of reluctance within the leadership to change tactics. There has been a major sense of resistance to move with the times. KNCNA has been unable to differentiate between the overall strategy of holding on to the slogan and dream of a Free Kurdistan and the need to realistically measure the challenges faced by Kurds under each regime in the region

The danger of not reevaluating our tactics is a continuous isolation of the Kurds in diaspora and subsequently less attention and solidarity from the International community to our cause. Our very small presence in the Armenian Genocide Remembrance day is a perfect example of a tactical mistake on our part. A lack of connection with Greek communities and their lobbies is yet another mistake because they could be extraordinarily important especially when issues of Turkey’s human right abuses are brought up.

If we believe that a Free Kurdistan is not compatible with working with non-Kurdish opposition groups in the Middle East who are fighting and struggling with the same regimes in the region, then we will have a much more difficult battle.

Often pro-democracy opposition fronts of all ethnic groups have the same common goals as Kurds, and we need to build strategic alliances. In order to do this we have to have a presence during critical historical events.

For example, the last 12 months could have been a fantastic opportunity to direct the attention of the International community to the plight of the Kurds in Iran. This opportunity was missed. Unimaginable events swept Iran, which took the international community by surprise. It demanded solidarity from the Kurdish Community in diaspora precisely because Kurds in Iran have suffered the most from the regime in Iran and will need the support of other ethnic groups in Iran in the coming months. Our Kurdish community has been almost entirely absent because they have considered the movements in Iran inconsequential and irrelevant to a Free Kurdistan. This type of mentality is not compatible with 21st century politics and needs to be updated.

As Kurds we have to be honest with ourselves and look at our history critically and analytically. We have been one of the biggest losers of history. Yes, we have been betrayed by world powers in the past and continue to struggle with challenges to be recognized. Yes we lack adequate resources to educate our youth and keep them from being executed. Yes, we have been under oppression and have faced genocide, war, and ethnic cleansing. However, we cannot ignore the very fact that we have also often lacked strong compassionate leadership. We have often lacked the right strategy and tactic. We have done too little too late. We have often been silent when we should have shouted, or not acted when we should have been up in arms. Many times when we should have been at the negotiating tables we were too busy fighting amongst ourselves for power and position. Many times we just simply did not understand the systematic geopolitical, economic, social, and cultural aspects of the times we lived in.

If we do not learn from our history then we are bound to repeat them. The prices of losing opportunities are irreversible. As someone who comes from a family of martyr, who has lost many close relatives to the Kurdish plight, as someone who has spent many long months in prison and many long days in the mountains as well as a refugee, I understand first hand what it means to be a Kurd without a land. I also understand that shouting slogans will not save children from execution. We need diplomacy and strategy, lobbies and resources, leaders and funding, as well as dedication and compassion. Yes we can move KNCNA towards a more pragmatic and mature tactical roadmap.

Thank you

The speach has been edited by Cklara Moradian

The Rumor Mill's OPEN MIC/Performance Night

at The Rumor Mill's OPEN MIC/Performance Night

Thursday, July 8, 2010 from 7:30-10:00 pm
opening the show will be Soraya Fallah, who holds an MA in International Relations and Law, and is the Chair of the Kurdish Women Rights Committee. Soraya will be singing a song or two in her native Kurdish, offering a musical glimpse into a culture remote from ours, usually read or heard about only in news reporting on the war in Iraq. Accompanying Soraya will be multi-instrumentalist George Also appearingGyznalyan, a graduate of Roman Millikan Music college in Ervan, Armenia, who plays professionally in Erebuni Band. He frequently appears with Soraya in support of anti-genocidal and Kurdish women's rights issues.

Musicians, actors or other performers interested in participating in future Open Mic/Performance Night events–with comedy routines, dramatic readings, music, one-act plays or performance pieces–are all welcome. Please contact event programmer Joe Staats at 310-889-6172 , or use the sign-up sheet found on the Rumor Mill counter.
Following will be COMEDY: ROUND TWO !! this Thursday, July 8, 2010 from 7:30-10:00 pm brings the return of the funny in the form of actress/comedienne/writer–and host–Sardia Marley with a brand-new group of five sublimely ridiculous, seriously disturbed, and wickedly sarcastic individuals. (Warning: these comedians are also often dressed funny by their mothers, and should not be approached by civilians unarmed with a sense of humor!). This week’s group of miscreants notoriously includes Steve Schneider (“Steve lives on a boat in Marina del Rey”: rock on, Mr. S. !) ; Grace Fraga (who describes herself as a “Latino female, 102-years-old, living in Beverly Hills”—and, trust us, all blond bombshell centenarians-plus should look this good! Grace has entertained the troops in Iraq, and is a veteran of such notable comedy venues as Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store, and The Improv); Chris Adams (who has performed in Last Comic Standing, at the Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store, and The Improv. Chris is currently getting ready to storm the beaches of the Thames River, scale the Big Ben clock tower–and take London, U.K. by storm); Rhune Gill Kincaid (of whom little, alas, is known—come Thursday night to find out more!) and Paul Cibis (of whom it has been truthfully reported: “When not busy performing stand up around Los Angeles, or writing, directing, and editing hilarious content for The Atrox.com, Paul is forever trying to outrun his past as a highly trained international assassin. It is best not to become too involved with Paul, as that is a surefire way to get yourself killed, either directly by one of Paul’s enemies looking for vengeance, or accidentally, by a bullet/explosive/poison dart/throwing star intended for Paul himself.”)

imminent danger of execution Zainab Jalalian

Zainab Jalalian

Age: 27

Location: Reportedly moved to Evin Ward 209 on 27 June, in imminent danger of execution; Moved to Ministry of Intelligence detention center on March 5, previously held in Kermanshah Prison.

Date condemned: 26 November 2009
Charge: Mohareb

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We have assembled Contact information and sample letters to Iranian officials and to the UN Secretary General and High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding Zainab Jalalian's case. Please also sign the Petition to the United Nations regarding her case.

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Zainab Jalalian was charged as Mohareb ("war against God") due to her membership in the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), a separatist organization that is illegal in Iran. Zainab's plea to say goodbye to her family was met with, "shut up" by the sentencing judge, and she was condemned to death by hanging. As Zainab was not permitted legal representation, the Islamic Republic violated her rights under Article 10 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) also guarantees the right to legal counsel in Article Article 14(3)(b) and (d).

Zainab's death sentence is based on her supposed involvement in PKK. "Mohareb" is a politically-motivated charge meaning, "armed war against God." The Islamic Republic uses this charge to condemn people for acting against the state, usually when there is no other remotely justifiable reason for their imprisonment. The Islamic Republic continually intimidates its oppressed Kurdish population by imprisoning, torturing, and executing them on false charges of threatening national security.

Nothing about Zainab's imprisonment, trial, and death sentence abide by international law. Both the UDHR and the ICCPR guarantee a fair trial, which Zainab was denied. She was not given a fair or impartial hearing, and denied the opportunity to examine witnesses against her or to have witnesses on her behalf. Zaiab's basic human dignity has been violated through these proceedings, and her execution is an abomination. Even if she was a member of PKK, the death sentence is a violation of Article 6(2) of the ICCPR: "In countries which have not abolished the death penalty, sentence of death may be imposed only for the most serious crimes."

Human Rights Activists News Agency and Green Voice of Freedom reported on March 5 that Zainab had been transferred from her prison in Kermanshah to the Ministry of Intelligence detention center. In the past, this has often indicated that a prisoner is about to be executed.

Amnesty International has issued an Urgent Action Alert for Zainab Jalalian and Hossein Khezri, who are believed to be at risk of imminent execution. We have assembled a sample letter you can send to Iranian authorities regarding these two cases.

UPDATE 26 June: Zainab Jalalian's sentence has been upheld and advanced to the enforcement section. She is in imminent danger of execution.

From the source:

"Following the confirmation of the death sentence of Zeinab Jalalian by appeals court and Supreme Court, the case was referred for the preparation of the execution...Zeinab Jalalian’s sentence was confirmed in the Appeals Court and was also confirmed by the Supreme Court, and has been referred for the preparation of the execution, within the past 48 hours, authorities are waiting for a special letter for carrying out the execution."

With thanks to MrZand for translation.

UPDATE 28 June: Mission Free Iran has provided sample letters to send to both United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay and Florian Westphal and Dorothea Krimitsas of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Activist @shariatmadari has created a video for Zeinab Jalalian. Bloggers can embed this video using code from his site.

United For Iran has created a Facebook profile badge for users to raise awareness about Zeinab.

We are asking everyone to write to the United Nations, the Iranian Judiciary and other influential figures. Zeinab's lawyer, Khalil Bahramian, has stated that United Nations intervention is the only chance to save his client's life.

Updates

• 28 June 2010 UN must interfere to save Zeynab’s life./خلیل بهرامیان: برای نجات زینب جلالیان با دبیر کل سازمان ملل تماس بگیرید StreetJournalist.
• 26 June 2010 ارسال پرونده زینب جلالیان به دایره اجرای احکام Kurdish Perspective.
• 26 June 2010 خانم زینب جلالیان ،زندانی سیاسی محکوم به اعدام ،درخطراجرای حکم قرار داد. Kurdish Human Rights Association.
• 21 April 2010 Iran: Two Kurds at imminent risk of execution: Hossein Khezri and Zeynab Jalalian. Amnesty International Urgent Action Alert
• 5 March 2010 No information on the status of Zainab Jalalian. (Persian): Human Rights Activists News Agency and Green Voice of Freedom
• 21 January 2010 Iran: Death Sentence Issued for Female Kurdish Political Prisoner. Payvand Iran News
• 27 November 2009 Political prisoner, Zeinab Jalalian on death row. Planet Iran
• 26 November 2009 Statement by Zeinab Jalalian
• United Nations: Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

What can be done?

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Take Action

• Write your senators
• The 346 NO EXECUTION Project
• Amnesty International
• Cut the Rope (Facebook)
• Green Embassies Campaign: Stand Against the Execution of Political Prisoners! (English, Portugese, Spanish, Chinese, and Dutch)
• Mission Free Iran resources اعدام موقوف Not One More Execution. Basic instructions and materials to help you stand up and demand an end to executions in Iran.
• United4Iran ACTION: Demand an End to Executions

Sign Petitions

• The Iran Information Project

Learn More

- International Laws

• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
• ICCPR English Law

- Declarations of Human Rights

• United Nations: Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
• Amnesty International: Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran

source:

Stop the Executions

Bitte helfen Sie!!! Leben in Gefahr!!!

Lieber Human Rights Organisationen:

Ich schreibe Ihnen mit der dringenden Bitte, dass Sie mit den Behörden zu intervenieren in der Islamischen Republik Iran, die Vorbereitung auf weibliche kurdischen politischen Gefangenen Frau Zeinab Jalalian auszuführen sind. Multilaterale Organisationen haben bisher geweigert, in Schritt und setzen einen Stopp des verbrecherischen Handlungen von der Islamischen Republik verübt. Ihr Mandat Ihre Organisation fördert die Arbeit der Gefangenen Besuch in Situationen der inneren Gewalt, wo die Genfer Konventionen nicht anwenden, verpflichten. Ich bitte Sie, in Schritt und fordern einen Stopp dieses und andere laufende strafrechtliche Verfahren und barbarisch in der Islamischen Republik.

Die UN und alle anderen bilateralen und multilateralen Organisationen blieb im Gefängnis von 1988 Massaker in Iran, wo Tausende von politischen Gefangenen, wie Ms. Jalalian heimlich hingerichtet wurden und in Massengräbern verscharrt schweigen. Wir werden nicht tatenlos zusehen und zulassen Schweigen zu diesen laufenden Verbrechen zu decken. Wir fordern jetzt handeln.

Bitte kontaktieren Sie UNHRC (+41-22-917 9220) oder (+1-212-963 5012), sofort zu handeln, um ihrer Hinrichtung zu stoppen! Wenn Sie nicht erreichen, die verantwortliche Person, eine Nachricht hinterlassen. FAX: 00442079561157

Please help!!! life in danger!!!

Dear Human Rights Organisations:

My name is Ms Zeinab Jalalian (زینب جلالیان). I am a 27-year-old Kurdish female political prisoner in prison in Iran. My death sentence was confirmed by the Iranian Supreme Court.

I am currently ill because of torture and I don’t have any lawyer to defend me. I want to tell you that my trial took only few minutes. The Court told me: “You are an enemy of God. You must be hanged very soon.” That was the sum of my entire court process. I asked the judge to give me permission to say good bye to my mother and family before my execution. He told me to “shut up” and rejected my request

Please also contact UNHRC (+41-22-917 9220) or (+1-212-963 5012) to act immediately to stop her execution!! If you do not reach the person in charge, leave a message.

On behalf of Zeinab THANK YOU...

PANEL: Kurdish Human Rights

from left to right
Dr.Najmadin Karim, Soraya Fallah,Azad Moradian, Salah Piroti

Kurdish National Congress of North America , 22nd Annual Conference

The Kurdish National Congress of North America
will gather for its annual conference at San Diego University in San
Diego, California. This will be KNC-NA's 22nd annual conference.

Division of Kurdistan: Its Impact on the Unity of Kurdish National Psyche

for more information please contact 0018184349692


كنگره ملي كردها در امريكاي شمالي ٢٢مين كنفرانس ساليانه خود را در روزهاي ٤ تا ٦ زوين سال ٢٠١٠ در دانشگاه ايالتي كاليفرنيا در شهر سان ديه گو برگزار مي كند.ورود براي عموم آزاد است. براي اطلاعات بيشتر مي توانيد با اي ميل
و يا با تلفن٠٠١٨١٨٤٣٤٩٦٩٢ تماس بگيريد radiovok@gmail.com

كونگره نه ته وي كورد له باكوري ئه مريكا ٢٢ هه مين كونفرانسي ساليانه ي خوي له شاري سان ديه گو ي وه لايه تي كاليفورنيا له
شويني زانستگاي سان ديه گو، له روژاني ٤ تا ٦ مانگي ژوين به ره ي وا دابات. بو زانياري زيادتر ده توانن بهژوماره تليفوني ٠٠١٨١٨٤٣٤٩٦٩٢ پيوندي به گرن. پيلاوي هه مو ميواناكان له سه ر چاومان

Start Time:	Friday, June 4, 2010 at 12:00pm
End Time:	Sunday, June 6, 2010 at 3:00pm
Location:	San Diego University in San Diego, California
Street:	5500 Campanile Drive
City/Town:	San Diego, CA

protesters gathered across the Iraqi border in the Kurdish city of Suleymanieh against executin of Kurds in Iran

Iran's Kurdish Question
The Islamic Republic's recent execution of five Kurds has sparked outrage in northern Iraq, and renewed unrest at home.
BY KAWE QORAISHY | MAY 17, 2010

Two days after the hanging of five Iranian Kurds in Tehran, protesters gathered across the Iraqi border in the Kurdish city of Suleymanieh. Thousands of them crowded into the city's leafy Freedom Park, where Javad Alizadeh, a well-known former political prisoner in Iran who had recently left for Iraqi Kurdistan, addressed the gathering. The Iranian regime "follows neither the principles of republicanism, nor does it abide by holy laws of Islam," Alizadeh declared. "The Islamic Republic has shown in the past 30 years that it only cares about its own survival and it will not abstain from committing the vilest of acts in achieving its goal."

The memorial was one of the greatest outpourings of Kurdish opposition to the regime in recent memory, and one among numerous protests and hunger strikes -- quiet ones in Iran, less so in Iraq's Kurdish region, where Kurds were once persecuted but now enjoy relative autonomy -- that have broken out since the execution on May 9. The victims, the Iranian authorities claimed, were activists for Kurdish autonomy; two of the five were accused of belonging to the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK), a Kurdish nationalist group that Iran considers a terrorist organization. The uproar has prompted, and been worsened by, the government's refusal to allow the families of the five victims to be buried publicly, for fear of massive protests.
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The executions and other crackdowns in Iran have set up a bind for the country's Kurds, who increasingly fear that the price of political activism within Iran is death or imprisonment -- but worry that their abilities to pressure the regime will be lessened if they instead choose exile in northern Iraq, where the Kurds enjoy protection by their own defense forces. Since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power in 2005, religious and ethnic minorities have faced worsening discriminatory practices in Iran, the Kurds (who are also mostly Sunni Muslim in majority Shiite Iran) among them. When human rights and political activists have protested the unequal status, the Islamic Republic has prosecuted many of them. Most recently, Kaweh Ghassemi-Kermanshahi, a member of the central committee of the Kurdistan Human Rights Organization, was arrested after he spoke to the foreign media; he has been in detention for nearly 100 days.

The demonstrators in Suleymaniah hope their protests and vigils will inspire the Kurds in Iran to rise up, despite their fear of Iran's security forces. (They succeeded last Thursday, when Iranian Kurds responded by launching a general strike and shuttering their shops.) Salahaddin Mohtadi, an exiled Iranian Kurd in Suleymaniah who has been fighting for Kurdish independence in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution, believes that Iran's recent actions could be the goad that activists need to form a broad Kurdish front that transcends political rivalries. "The execution of political prisoners can be a great opportunity to create a large coalition among Kurdish parties against the central government of Iran," he said.

For More
Visit InsideIran.org for on the ground coverage of events in the Islamic Republic.

On the evening of May 10, hundreds of Iranian and Iraqi Kurds took part in a protest gathering at the Shneh Dari Park in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, where demonstrators lit candles in memory of Sunday's victims. Farhad Pirbal, a dissident Kurdish author who spoke at the event, compared what is happening now in Iran to the repression of Iraqi Kurds under Saddam Hussein. "There was a time when Baathist agents executed young Kurds right here in the neighborhood just because they were carrying cassette tapes with Kurdish music on them," Pirbal said. "But now, we are here at this very place in freedom protesting against a regime that hangs Kurds for the crime of defending their own rights."

"No dictatorship can last forever," he went on. "There was a time when the demise of the Baath regime seemed impossible. ... I am sure that there will be a day when the Iranian people will be free of dictatorship and achieve liberty."

Life in the Kurdish provinces in Iran, meanwhile, remains tense. There is a heavy security presence in places such as Kamyaran, Sanandaj, Mahabad, and Saghez, and local Kurdish media reported that 15 students were arrested Wednesday morning in the Kurdish city of Marivan. Thursday's strike in the region was reportedly the largest in recent years; bazaars were empty, students and activists stayed home, even government offices were closed. These five executions, the activists believe, don't just mark the end of the victims' lives, but also the beginning of a new era in which the Iranian regime will have to answer to its critics.

Kurds in Turkey protest against the execution of Kurdish political prisoners in Iran

The statement of Kurdish PEN Centre Regarding execution of 5 political prisoners in Iran

The statement of Kurdish PEN Centre  regarding the execution of the patriot intellectuals of Kurdistan in Eastern part of our homeland   We at the Kurdish PEN Centre believe that the killing and execution of freedom loving intellectuals who follow a peaceful path to practice their rights is a horrific act very far from the principles of humanity.   According to the known international standards such acts can only be committed by totalitarian oppressive regimes.   The execution of five heroic Kurdish freedom loving individuals by the Iranian regime has caused another shock to the world's public opinion.   Ferzad Kemanger was a teacher in villages of East Kurdistan, passionately teaching his community's children how to read and write. His love to humanity was endless and without prejudice. He was a teacher, journalist, and a wise short story writer who was using a beautiful simple language for the awareness of his peoples and readers.   Elî Heyderiyan, Ferhad Wekîlî, Şirîn Elemhulî Atêşga and Mêhdi Islamyan, each and every one of them was serving their community peacefully in their own ways. They had a humanitarian manifesto while being social activists.     We appeal to the Iranian officials, to end these horrific acts against the Kurdish people, for we believe the solution to the Kurdish cause peacefully and via dialogue is the best democratic way, which is the only way to change the situation for all the people in the region and to bring peace to their lives.   Let the dictators have lessons from history and remember the fate of the dictators such as Hitler, Mussolini, Nero, Saddam Husein and other criminals. The Kurdish PEN Centre strongly condemns the execution of the Kurdish intellectuals and freedom loving patriots and reminds the world that those heroes have followed others with their sacrifices to pave the way to peace and freedom.   Kurdish PEN Centre 13.05.2010