Kurdistan Issues: Kurds in Iran

For a detailed account of history of the Kurds in the Persian Empire and Iran see History of the Kurds and Iranian Kurdistan. In recent years, intense fighting occurred between Kurds and the Iranian state between 1979 and 1982. Since 1983 the Iranian government has had control over the area which the Kurds inhabit. This area encompasses Kurdistan Province and greater parts of West Azarbn Kermanshah, l lam Province and smaller parts of Lorestan that totally is called Iranian Kusdistan.

In Iran Kurds, like other minorities, express their cultural identity with difficulties and they are denied the right of self-government or administration. Membership of any Kurdish separatist’ party could be punishable by death. The Kurdish language is also banned from being taught in schools; which is a breach of the current constitution end there are restrictions today on publishing Kurdish Literature. In 2005 the Islamic government banned the two Kurdish magazines “Aso” and “Ashti” (following many persian – language ones in other areas of Iran in recent years), and their editors have been arrested.

Kurdish human rights activists in Iran have been threatened by Iranian authorities in connection with their work.