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.
