The 1979 Nationwide Attack

Kurdish political parties were banned or driven underground. The events of August 18, 1979, are seen as a turning point in the relationship between the Islamic Republic and Kurdish society. Instead of negotiating cultural rights and political inclusion, the new regime chose military suppression. This decision set the tone for decades of strained relations, periodic uprisings, and continued demands for Kurdish rights within.

After the victory of the 1979 Revolution, Kurds in like many other groups—believed a new era of justice and self-determination had begun. Kurdish political movements began organizing local councils, managing education, and mobilizing militias to defend their communities. In March 1979, Kurdish representatives met with Khomeini’s circle in Tehran, seeking recognition of Kurdish autonomy within a federal system.

August 19, 2025 | 2:31 am