Rêwar Abdanan, a member of the Executive Council of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), joined the “Iran Freedom Congress” in London online and outlined his party’s vision regarding the current situation in Iran under four main headings.
In his speech delivered via video, he emphasized the need for a shared political perspective beyond the Islamic Republic.
Abdanan described the current situation in Iran as a profound crisis marked by both uncertainty and a strong desire for societal change. “The situation is shaped by both fear and hope,” he said, pointing to the dynamic within society.
No simple models for the future
Against this backdrop, he warned against uncritically adopting existing political models. Instead, he said, solutions should be developed in line with the concrete social realities in Iran. “Political forces should not simply copy existing systems, but develop practical solutions suited to their own conditions,” Abdanan stated.
At the same time, the PJAK official emphasized that the overthrow of the Islamic Republic alone would not be sufficient. What is crucial is to formulate a clear perspective for the period afterward now, he said, adding that groups that postpone this debate would hardly be able to present a convincing alternative.
Democratic unity as a prerequisite
A central point of the speech was the call for democratic unity. Abdanan urged political parties, organizations, and social actors to define common minimum principles. “Without cooperation and democratic unity, it will not be possible to overcome this historic moment,” he said. He also stressed the need for an open and pluralistic dialogue. Prejudices, exclusion, and political stigmatization must be overcome in order to enable a common political project.
Diversity as the foundation of a new system
With regard to Iran’s social reality, Abdanan highlighted the country’s ethnic, cultural, and social diversity. “Different communities must better understand each other’s experiences and demands. The centralized nation-state model has proven inadequate over recent decades.” At the same time, he rejected simple counter-models, stressing that neither strict centralization nor complete decentralization can solve the existing problems. Instead, Abdanan advocated for a system based on broad political participation and local self-governance. As a possible framework, he mentioned a democratic republic, while also remaining open to federal models. “No political issue should be taboo,” Abdanan stated, emphasizing the importance of open debate in developing a democratic consensus.
Women as key to democratic change
A major focus of Abdanan’s speech was the role of women. He made clear that without women’s freedom, genuine democracy is not possible. “Without the freedom of women, democracy remains meaningless. Women must have control over their own lives and be able to participate equally in all areas of society.” In this context, he referred to the “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom) movement as an expression of profound social change in Iran.
The Kurdish question as a benchmark
Finally, Abdanan stressed that the recognition of a political status for the Kurds is a key indicator of the country’s democratization. In a system based on equality, he said, there is no room for violence or armed conflict. PJAK is ready to actively participate in shaping a new political system, he stated at the end of his speech, reaffirming this with the slogan “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî.”
Initially excluded from the congress
PJAK’s participation in the congress had initially been prevented beforehand. Although the party had originally been invited, its representation was removed from the program at short notice without explanation. However, following criticism and support from various political actors, this decision was reversed. PJAK was re-invited and was ultimately able to participate in the congress with its own contribution.
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