The first conference of the People’s Council (Meclîsa Gel) began on Saturday in the mountain community of Qandil in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). Under the motto “Communal society is a guarantee for a free life,” representatives from five local council structures, representing a total of 67 villages in the region, came together.
The aim of the two-day conference is to discuss social issues together, strengthen self-government, and lay the foundations for solidarity and democratic coexistence in the border region between Iraq, Iran, and Turkey.
The event began with a minute’s silence for those who fell in the Kurdish freedom struggle. In addition to delegates from the villages, relatives of the martyrs and local dignitaries are also taking part in the meeting.
Focus on democracy, self-government, collective life
According to the organizers, the conference will focus in particular on topics such as the organization of council work, strengthening democratic decision-making processes, protecting social values, and strengthening collective life. In addition, the role of people’s councils in promoting local self-sufficiency, social participation, and conflict resolution in everyday life will be discussed.
Political significance for the region
According to the organizers, the conference is expected to produce concrete decisions to strengthen local self-government in Qandil. The results could have a direct impact on the future work of the People’s Council and social structures in the region.
The People’s Council emphasized the importance of joint decision-making processes in a historically marginalized and geopolitically sensitive area. “In a region that is often only perceived through conflict, we focus on social self-organization, solidarity, and communal living,” said the welcoming speech.
Autonomous commune in the Zagros Mountains
Binarê Qendîl is located in the Zagros Mountains and borders Iranian territory. The region is disconnected from the power structures of Baghdad and Hewlêr (Erbil) and is organized at the communal level. For years, it has been governed according to the model of democratic autonomy and the basic principles of the gender-libertarian paradigm of the Kurdish freedom movement. The mountain community consists of the five regions of Navdeşt, Dola Şaroş, Qelatûkan, Maradu, and Dola Baleyan, and a total of 67 smaller and larger villages, which have been repeatedly attacked by the Turkish army in recent years.