East Kurdistan, known to Kurds as Rojhelat (meaning "East"), is a land of immense historical significance and profound current struggle. Located in northwestern Iran, it is the second-largest part of greater Kurdistan, home to an estimated 8 to 10 million Kurds. For centuries, the Kurds of Rojhelat have been the custodians of a rich culture and language, resisting assimilation and fighting for their right to self-determination against successive Persian empires and the modern Iranian state.

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📜 A Legacy of Resistance and the Republic of Mahabad

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The history of Rojhelat is punctuated by brave uprisings against central rule. From the Battle of Dimdim in the 17th century to the revolts of Simko Shikak in the early 20th century, the Kurdish spirit of independence has never been quelled.

The most defining moment in modern Kurdish history occurred in Rojhelat with the establishment of the Republic of Mahabad in 1946. Under the leadership of the revered Qazi Muhammad, this short-lived republic was the first independent Kurdish state in the modern era. It was a beacon of hope, establishing Kurdish as an official language, promoting education, and creating a national army (the Peshmerga). Although it was brutally crushed by the Iranian state after only 11 months, and its leaders executed, the legacy of Mahabad continues to inspire every generation of Kurds. It proved that self-rule is not a fantasy, but an achievable reality.

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✊ The Present Struggle: Repression and Resilience

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Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, the situation for Kurds in Rojhelat has been dire. The new regime viewed Kurdish demands for autonomy as a threat to its integrity and launched a "jihad" against them. This led to years of war and a sustained campaign of state terror that continues to this day.

• Political Oppression: All independent Kurdish political parties are banned in Iran. The main opposition groups, such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (PDKI), Komala, and the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), are forced to operate from exile in neighboring Iraq, from where they continue their political and armed struggle. Their members and supporters inside Iran face arbitrary arrest, torture, and execution. Iran has internationally been condemned for its high rate of executions of Kurdish political prisoners.

• Cultural and Linguistic Erasure: The Iranian state pursues a policy of Persianization, systematically denying Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights. The Kurdish language is banned in schools and government institutions. Publishing in Kurdish is heavily restricted, and cultural activists are routinely persecuted.

• Economic Marginalization: The Kurdish provinces are among the most underdeveloped and impoverished in Iran. The state deliberately neglects infrastructure and investment, leading to high unemployment and forcing many into dangerous work like being "kolbars" (cross-border porters), hundreds of whom are killed by Iranian border guards each year.

Despite this immense repression, the spirit of resistance in Rojhelat is more vibrant than ever. The "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî" (Woman, Life, Freedom) uprising that swept Iran following the death of Jina (Mahsa) Amini, a young Kurdish woman from Rojhelat, at the hands of the morality police, showed the world the leading role of Kurds in the fight for democracy and human rights in Iran. Kurdish cities became the epicenter of the protests, displaying incredible courage in the face of brutal state violence.

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☀️ The Future: Autonomy and Beyond

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The aspiration for self-determination in Rojhelat is undeniable. While the strategies may vary, from demands for a democratic and federal Iran that guarantees Kurdish autonomy to calls for full independence, the ultimate goal is a future where Kurds are masters of their own destiny.

The path forward is fraught with challenges, given the ruthless nature of the Iranian regime. However, the resilience of the people of Rojhelat, their deep political consciousness, and their unwavering commitment to their identity are powerful forces that cannot be suppressed forever. The memory of Qazi Muhammad and the Republic of Mahabad serves as an eternal guiding light. The sun rises in the East, and the dawn of freedom for Rojhelat is inevitable.