Blog

For decades, the Kurdish people have suffered not only from the brutality of the Iranian regime but also from corruption and betrayal at the hands of the Kurdish political parties, the KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) and the PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan). These two parties control everything in the Kurdistan Region, dividing power between themselves and treating the people not as citizens but as property. Jobs, education, healthcare, and security all depend on party loyalty, and anyone who dares to speak against them risks losing their livelihood, being arrested, or even worse. Journalists who expose corruption are silenced, teachers who protest unpaid wages are threatened, and activists who call for reform are imprisoned or killed. The murders of Sardasht Osman, Kawa Garmyani, Hersh Omar, and many others remain symbols of this oppression—their only crime was telling the truth.

The KDP and PUK also use violence to control demonstrations and silence dissent. Peaceful protesters demanding justice have been beaten, shot at, and arrested, while families of victims are pressured into silence. These tactics create a climate of fear designed to crush opposition and ensure that no voice of freedom can rise without facing harsh consequences. Yet despite this constant repression, the Kurdish people continue to resist, and activists like me continue to raise our voices against corruption, injustice, and authoritarian rule.

This is why I protest publicly and post openly online. By exposing the crimes of these parties, I am calling for freedom, justice, and dignity for the Kurdish people. But by doing so, I also put myself in great danger. The authorities in both Kurdistan and Iran treat activists like me as enemies of the state, and they do not forgive those who criticise them. Every protest I attend, every article I write, and every post I share on Facebook increases my risk, but I refuse to stay silent. The world must know the truth about the corruption and oppression of the KDP and PUK.

Here I write about corruption, human rights abuses, and the struggles of the Kurdish people under the Iranian regime and Kurdish political parties. These posts reflect my voice as an activist, my experiences at protests, and my commitment to exposing injustice. Through my words and actions, I show why returning to Iran or Kurdistan would place me in danger.

The Truth About the KDP and PUK

In Their Names We Protest

This blog honours the memory of Kurdish journalists, teachers, and activists who were silenced for speaking the truth. Their murders were meant to create fear, but instead they inspire us to continue the struggle for freedom and justice. By carrying their names into every protest, we show that their voices still live on.

The struggle of the Kurdish people is written in the names of those who were silenced for daring to speak out. Journalists, teachers, and activists have been murdered, imprisoned, or disappeared simply because they stood up against corruption and oppression. Their voices were cut short, but their courage continues to inspire us to protest in their name.

Sardasht Osman was kidnapped in 2010 after criticising the Kurdish leadership. His body was found days later, shot dead for daring to demand freedom of speech. Kawa Garmyani, a journalist who exposed corruption in the Kurdish region, was assassinated outside his home in 2013. Teacher and activist Hersh Omar was killed for supporting peaceful demonstrations. Many more remain imprisoned, beaten, or threatened — their only crime being the pursuit of truth and justice.

When I march in London, Birmingham, or Manchester, I carry their names with me. Every banner I hold, every chant I join, and every article I write is an act of remembrance and defiance. By protesting, I refuse to let the world forget their sacrifice. These murders were meant to create fear, but instead they created determination in people like me.

In their names, we protest. We demand freedom, dignity, and justice for the Kurdish people. Their legacy reminds us that silence is not an option, and that raising our voices against corruption and oppression is both a duty and a right.