Helgurt Rojhilatî, Member of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) Council, spoke to Rojnews about the popular protests that have been ongoing in Iran and Eastern Kurdistan since December 28, 2025.
A continuation of the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ Revolution
Referring to the protests in Iran and Eastern Kurdistan, Helgurt Rojhilatî said: “I extend my condolences to the families of the martyrs who lost their lives in the Iranian Freedom Revolution. I hope that the blood of our martyrs will not be shed in vain. What is happening in Iran today is not a new situation; it is the result of 40 years of oppression and tyranny by the current government.”
Helgurt Rojhilatî continued: “The current situation is a result of the difficulties experienced over the past 40 years. People face enormous obstacles to survive. Life has become very difficult for people. The uprising unfolding in Iran today is a continuation of the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ (Woman, Life, Freedom) revolution. First, it emerged in Iran and Eastern Kurdistan demanding women’s freedom. This is a second stage for women. The people rose up for a free life. People poured into the streets to live, and they are demanding a life of dignity. This is a rebellion to continue living.”
People do not want any foreign intervention
Referring to the approach of the Iranian regime, Helgurt Rojhilatî stated the following: “Essentially, the Islamic Republic of Iran does not want the people to see the current conflicts. That is why every time it tries to escape this chaos, it sinks a little deeper. The Iranian government must listen carefully to the demands of the people who have demonstrated that they did not want any foreign intervention and would not accept it. If the Iranian people wanted this, they could have put the Islamic Republic in a very difficult position during the 12-day war and ensured that it would never rise again. However, the Iranian people clearly demonstrated that they were not on the side of any external power. The Islamic Republic should have understood this clearly. Today, the Iranian people are demanding life. They face great difficulties in finding daily bread. This is an internal problem for Iran. The Iranian government must understand this well.
The regime seeks to intimidate young people and the public through attacks
Helgurt Rojhilatî pointed out that the Iranian regime seeks to intimidate young people and the public through attacks and to respond to the people’s demands in this way instead of listening to their demands: “No problem in Iran can be resolved through oppression and tyranny. The killing of citizens is increasing the backlash. The problem in Iran today does not only concern the Iranian nation or the components living in the country. It is a problem for everyone. A solution other than repression and massacres must be found to the problem in the streets. The only solution is for the Islamic Republic of Iran to resolve this problem internally. No external power is responsible for this.”
The people can no longer tolerate the Islamic Republic of Iran
The PJAK Council member pointed out that: “Iran has always sought to resolve these problems through external forces. The people can no longer tolerate the Islamic Republic of Iran. They are looking for a way to overcome this. The people want to live. The people want freedom.
The Iranian people are constantly fighting for a free life. This is one of everyone’s fundamental rights. A dignified life is every person’s right. This is what the Iranian people demand. The Iranian government and its leaders must understand this well.”
PJAK supports the people’s legitimate demands
Helgurt Rojhilatî concluded: “As PJAK, we always support the legitimate demands of all peoples. We are here for a solution. We are holding talks with all Kurdish parties, political factions, and other parties in Iran regarding the current situation. We want to see a united stance on this issue. The more united we are in our stance, the more effective we can be in addressing the current situation.
We hope that neither side will pursue its own interests, and that the interests of the people will not be sacrificed to the interests of political parties and institutions. We want this situation to be seen as extraordinary and we want a common stance to be taken.”