Iraqi Kurdistan has better individuals than Massoud Barzani to lead

The Kurds can definitely survive without Barzanis

Serwan Zangana | Exclusive to iKurd.net

The recent protest of Lajan village in Khabat district, which erupted in late November and resulted in one person being killed and a few others injured by the Kurdistan Democratic Party forces (KDP), is another dark mark on the Barzani family’s forehead.

Apparently, the people of Kurdistan have had enough, and the residents of Lajan are another example, as they demanded jobs and basic necessities which are controlled by the Barzani family and the high-ranked members of the (KDP).

The cruelty of the (KDP) led by Massoud Barzani has been sparking protests in the past, including cracking down on protesters and shooting civilians, banning free media in the (KDP)-controlled areas, and depriving journalists of their freedom.

The Barzani family has orchestrated a plan to strike fear into the hearts of the people of Kurdistan, by controlling the most significant parts of Kurdistan and all assets and revenues of more than half of the region. Barzani has created a mini-empire of the family and built a forbidden zone. That means criticizing the members of the family’s behavior and corruption will indeed result in death or assassination.

The tyranny of Barzani has been devastating the Kurdish community throughout history, and evidently, in every situation, he has wisely been able to construct bridges to connect with Kurdish adversaries for the interest of the family. However, Barzani’s survival is under the mercy of the U.S., which is linked to Washington interests in Kurdistan and the Middle East. Indeed, Iran and Turkey are shareholders of Kurdistan’s natural resources that are controlled by Barzani.

Also, Barzani has been able to satisfy the U.S. and the regional nations as the most important factor in their relationships, and he achieved a high rate from Turkey and the U.S. for his involvement and support for the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) disarmament and the unilateral, so-called peace process of its leader, Abdullah Öcalan. “We emphasize our unchanged position and support the peace process in Turkey with all our might and consider peace as the only right way to resolve the problems,” Barzani stated.

Also, Barzani’s power in ruling the important parts of the Kurdistan region and continuing the development of the cities under the (KDP)-controlled area is attributed to the U.S. as the main beneficiary in the region. The U.S. is utilizing the role of Barzani to push its agenda into the area and deepens the American presence in the strategic region of Kurdistan. Such a shift would not be a surprise, as it has occurred in the past.

However, the Barzani family built a fortune as they turned the Kurdish revolution into a family business. The simplest question that a person can ask: What right does Massoud Barzani have to take over the entire town of Salahaddin-Pirmam of Erbil City and establish his headquarters in the mountain of Sari Rash? It is noteworthy that Sari Rash means Black Pinnacle, and after the uprising of 1991, the mountain was occupied by Barzani and the name was changed to Sari Blind, which means a person being proud and confident.

Obviously, Barzani has hijacked the City of Erbil and destroyed the value and culture of the ancient and historic city. The sanctity of the Barzani family has been perceived by many Kurds across parts of Kurdistan. Believing in Barzani’s struggle and revolution that led to the Kurdish freedom in Southern Kurdistan is a complete fallacy. The heinous acts of Barzani are witnessed by many Kurds, including members and leaders of the Kurdish tribes across Kurdistan.

The barbaric operations of the (KDP) led by the Barzani family have ended the lives of many important Kurdish figures and tribal leaders who played major roles in the Kurdish revolution and the 1991 uprising.

Zaid Omar Agha Surchi, in an interview with Kurdish media Channel 8, divulged how his family, including his father Omar Agha Surchi and his uncle Hussein Agha Surchi, embraced the Kurdish political leaders, including Massoud Barzani, and cordially welcomed them in their house in Kalakin village.

It is noteworthy that the Surchi tribe leaders, Omar and Hussein Agha, assisted both Barzani and Talabani during the 1991 uprising. But in fact, Barzani’s intolerable mentality toward other powerful Kurdish tribes has driven him to sweep and murder leaders and figures in Kurdistan.

By the order of Barzani in 1996, the (KDP) attacked and swept Kalakin village, murdering the tribe leader Hussein Agha Surchi and many others in the village. It should be noted that a few weeks later after the attack, one member of the (KDP), who participated and entered the village, described the vicious attack and the raid of the houses. The atrocious acts of Barzani’s (KDP) have caused bloodshed in Kurdistan.

Furthermore, Zaid Surchi continued to say that the Barzani family is the reason for the problems in Kurdistan, and in addition to Surchi leaders, the family murdered the tribal leaders of Bradost, Zebari, Siyan, and many more Kurdish figures throughout history.

Evidently, Barzani is ramping up pressure on the Kurdish tribes to surrender their tribal sovereignty to his rule. The December clashes between the Herki tribe and Barzani’s (KDP) in the Khabat area of Erbil City are another continuous example of Barzani’s mindset to seize their power and dominate the entire region.

Barzani plays a significant role in southern Kurdistan in serving Turkey’s interests and the U.S., which are the two important powers that Barzani knows carry weight to impact the region. Barzani has shown strength and confidence as his merciless (KDP) forces are cracking down on the people of Kurdistan, including protesters and journalists. Indeed, the opening of the massive U.S. consulate in Erbil is adding muscles to the Barzani family.

According to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), on December 3, 2025, the U.S. opened the largest consulate in the world in Erbil, as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas and the Barzani Family, including Massoud, Masrour, and Nechirvan, attended the ceremony.

Tribal leader and the head of Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP Massoud Barzani, Iraqi Kurdistan, March 20, 2025. Photo: K24 TV

President Donald Trump is also advocating to keep the U.S. troops in Kurdistan as a base for military operations against the Islamic State (ISIS) and to establish a vigilant watchtower monitoring Iran and its proxies. However, while the U.S. is deepening its ties with Barzani, it keeps its silence on the human rights violations in Kurdistan and the corruption of the Barzani family. In fact, the total failure of the (KRG) in running government facilities and paying salaries to its civil employees is not the concern of the U.S., as long as oil exports are operating normally.

According to The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, after more than two years of closing the Iraqi-Turkey pipeline (ITP), a deal was facilitated by the U.S.: Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and the International Oil Companies agreed to reopen the pipeline, and through Turkey, crude oil was shipped to the U.S.

The Kurdistan region has become a gold pot for the surrounding nations, the U.S., and the Barzani family, while the majority of the people of Kurdistan are impeded from some basic human rights. The U.S. and Turkey are generating the power of Barzani as he is paving paths and building bridges to continue serving the interests of these countries, and hence, strengthen the family’s power in Kurdistan and inflate the bank accounts of its members.

The atrocities of the Barzani’s (KDP) have been hidden behind the City of Erbil’s development, shopping centers and malls, hotels, and bars. And above all, the family members’ appearances, including sons and nephews, are a modern tactic in influencing the public. Again, the major problem arises with Barzani’s name being sanctified in many Kurds’ minds, and therefore, instead of loyalty to Kurdistan, Barzani per se is the cause and the purpose to sacrifice their lives for.

Barzani’s domination and his heinous actions have expanded beyond the (KDP)-controlled territories, as in fact, the members of the group can simply travel across the region and commit acts against the opposition. The recent assassination attempt of Kurdish journalist Hemin Mamend in Sulaimani City by a group linked to the (KDP) is another clear example of Barzani’s oppressive regime and his dark era in the Kurdistan region.

Qazi Muhammed salutes during the ceremony marking the establishment of the Republic of Mahabad in Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhelat), 1946. Mustafa Barzani is third from the right. Photo: Creative Commons/Wikimedia/colorized by iKurd.net

Kurds have survived and continued their revolution and life journey after Mustafa Barzani, as he left the Kurds behind after the 1975 collapse and went into exile in Iran. It was not Mustafa Barzani but Qazi Muhammed, who did not abandon his people and during the execution said, “Ultimately, you are achieving nothing. I am dying for the freedom of my people, and I am proud of this honorable death. Even at the moment when my body hangs from the rope, my shoes are above my enemy’s head.”

Therefore, as Kurdistan has better individuals than Barzani to lead, the Kurds can definitely survive without him.

Serwan Zangana, a contributing writer for iKurd.net, lives in Virginia, U.S. He serves as a correction officer.

The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of iKurd.net or its editorial team.