Azizi: We had a similar incident last year, but there were no injuries or deaths. There was another ambush in Kamyaran three years ago, which led to the killing of several people. So this means that the recent fighting is not new, but this time, the media is paying close attention to the region in light of the Islamic State’s [IS] attacks in Iraq — while Iran is part of this equation.
Al-Monitor: You are saying that you are against the war and want to gain your rights in a democratic way. Most Iranian Kurdish politicians say that Iran’s Islamic regime is a dictatorial one that rejects negotiations and democratic ways and refuses to sit with you. In light of this, how can you obtain your rights democratically?
Azizi: We will keep trying. There are about 80 million people living in Iran — most of whom are Shiites — while Iranian Kurds constitute a minority. We want our calls for peace and negotiations to be heard by the people, especially those who believe in reforms. They should be aware of the solutions to the Kurdish problem, as the 35-year-long war did not achieve anything. We cannot destroy the Islamic Republic of Iran and it cannot destroy us, therefore both sides have to find a solution for this issue one day.
Al-Monitor: You put an end to the fighting in 1997 and you are talking about peaceful solutions; have you been able to change Iran’s policy toward the Kurds since then?
Azizi: Iran’s mentality cannot be changed by us, but there is a movement inside and outside Iran against the Islamic Republic. This movement is shedding light on the republic’s oppression of political freedom, execution of prisoners and suppression of women’s rights, all of which are rejected by the people. We cannot change the mentality of the Iranian government with our capabilities, but we are trying to win over these people who are against the regime through our messages.
When Hassan Rouhani became president, he vowed to guarantee political freedom and minorities’ rights, and provide education in local languages for the people. However, [Supreme Leader] Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is the root of power, did not allow that. And because we Kurds cannot change the political scene in Iran, we have to struggle to get the people to our side.
We cannot address Khamenei or the Islamic Republic, which is why we turn to the Iranian people to let them know about the Kurds' fair share of imprisonment, execution and terror for 35 years. We want them to know why the Kurdish people are treated as such. This is how the concepts of fair treatment, understanding and peaceful methods will gradually become part of the culture in Iranian politics.
Al-Monitor: There are reports that Iranian Kurdish parties are not fighting Iran because they do not believe this is the right way, not because they are pressured by the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq. Is this true?
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