The Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK) made a written statement regarding the formation of a coalition among Kurdish political movements in Eastern Kurdistan (Rojhilat).
The statement said: “In Iran and the Middle East in general, the Kurdish question has long been regarded as one of the most complex and multi-layered political issues in the region. This complexity does not stem solely from the centralised structures of regional states and their policies of denying or excluding ethnic identities; it is also deepened by the fragmented nature of Kurdish political movements. For this reason, achieving unity and rapprochement among Kurdish parties has become one of the most fundamental conditions for political effectiveness. Historical experiences show that whenever Kurdish political forces have been able to act together, this has increased their bargaining power and enabled them to play a more influential role in regional political balances. In this context, the formation of a coalition among Kurdish parties in Eastern Kurdistan can be seen as an effort to overcome fragmentation and move towards a more organised and coordinated political struggle.”
Recent developments make cooperation even more crucial
The statement noted that one of the main problems of Kurdish political movements in the past has been the large number of parties and the internal rivalries that occasionally emerged, and said: “This situation has led to the fragmented use of the social and political potential of the Kurdish people and has made it difficult to establish a common political language. Moreover, central states have also taken advantage of this fragmented structure to control or weaken Kurdish movements. Therefore, unity among Kurdish parties is not merely a short-term political choice; it is a strategic necessity for rebuilding the political and social power of Kurdish society. Such unity can make it possible to develop common policies, coordinate political actions, and establish a common voice at both national and regional levels. On the other hand, developments in the Middle East in recent years have further increased the importance of this cooperation. In particular, the processes in Syria, Iraq and Turkey have shown that Kurdish movements can become an important actor in political balances when they establish organised and coordinated structures. The self-administration experience in North and East Syria and the struggle of Kurdish forces against radical organisations are among the concrete examples of this potential.”
PJAK plays an active role
The statement said that Kurdish political forces need greater coordination and organisation across different geographies and included the following remarks: “In this context, a coalition to be established among Kurdish parties in Iran could strengthen the political position of Kurds both within the country and at the regional level. Among the actors operating in Eastern Kurdistan, the PJAK is one of the key structures that has in recent years emphasised the discourse of unity and cooperation. Since its establishment, the party has underlined the necessity of rapprochement among Kurdish political forces and has regarded this as a fundamental condition for securing the democratic rights of Kurdish society. PJAK’s approach in this regard is based on concepts such as the democratic nation, peaceful coexistence, social self-organisation and equal participation. From this perspective, unity is seen not merely as a temporary alliance, but as part of a broader project of democratic transformation. In this process, the active role taken by the PJAK leadership is also noteworthy. In particular, the direct participation of co-chair Payman Viyan in such meetings and processes demonstrates the strategic importance attached to this issue. In Kurdish political movements, the direct involvement of leaders in a process generally reflects its seriousness and significance. Therefore, this participation goes beyond symbolism and reveals PJAK’s determination to play an active role in the process of unity.”
It could significantly increase the political representation power of Kurdish society
The statement pointed out that one of the prominent aspects of PJAK’s approach is its effort to expand the issue of unity beyond agreements between parties and to spread it to the societal level, and continued: “Because alliances established only at the level of leadership may not be sustainable if they lack strong social support. For this reason, PJAK argues that party unity should be supported by social and civil networks. This approach shows that unity is treated not as a short-term tool, but as a long-term strategy. From a theoretical perspective, unity among Kurdish parties could significantly increase the political representation power of Kurdish society. When political actors are fragmented, it becomes more difficult to express common demands, whereas a unified structure can enable these demands to be voiced in a stronger and more effective way. This can create greater visibility and influence both in relations with other political actors in Turkey and Iran and in the eyes of the international public. However, there are also various obstacles to such unity. Ideological differences, past rivalries and disagreements over political strategy may complicate this process. In addition, the security pressure and the closed political environment in Iran also limit the room for manoeuvre of Kurdish parties.”
The Kurdish political movement could enter a new phase
The statement underlined that managing differences, strengthening dialogue mechanisms and building mutual trust are of great importance for a lasting and effective unity, and concluded with the following remarks: “As a result, unity among Kurdish parties in Eastern Kurdistan is one of the most important factors that could increase the political power of Kurdish society. Such unity could contribute to the formation of a common political discourse, strengthen representation and enable Kurds to achieve a stronger position at both national and regional levels. PJAK’s efforts and active participation in this direction demonstrate its aim to play an influential role in shaping this process. If this process can evolve into an inclusive and lasting coalition, the Kurdish political movement in Iran could enter a new phase.”