National Holiday for the Uprisings: Raparin and Intifada

Omar Sindi | Exclusive to iKurd.net

There have been broad discussions among the public and politicians in the Autonomous Region of the Kurdistan Regional Government about proclaiming March 6, 1991, as an official holiday.

However, the uprising of September 11, 1961, should also be recognized, when the first action began in the city of Zakho and many other places throughout Southern Kurdistan (Iraqi Kurdistan) to expel the occupational soldiers of Abdel al-Karim Qasim, who had dishonored his promises to the Kurdish people under the leadership of General Mustafa Barzani.

Mr. Qasim claimed that Kurds and Arabs were equal partners in the new Iraqi society. The people wanted consociationalism, not an oppressive government.

The late General Barzani was a visionary man who sought peace for all Iraqis, especially the Kurdish people. However, Mr. Qasim left no room for negotiation. “Barzani was forced to deliver an ultimatum to Qasim in August 1961, demanding an end to authoritarian rule, recognition of Kurdish autonomy, and the restoration of democratic liberties.”

After the liberation of Zakho, Qasim’s regime unleashed all of its forces, including internationally banned weapons, on the surrounding areas, targeting defenseless people in an attempt to retake lost Kurdish territories from the freedom fighters. The people were determined to defend their hard-won freedom. Qasim and his regime were willing to retake the city at any cost, even if it meant killing many innocent people. Therefore, the Peshmerga (freedom fighters) left the city to avoid further destruction and to spare innocent lives. However, the Peshmerga continued fighting in the area against the Iraqi army, despite their military advantage.

In October 1962, in the city of Penjwin, the Qasim regime repeatedly failed to retake the city from the Peshmerga, despite their superiority in equipment and manpower.

At the end of October, Qasim’s soldiers gathered innocent people from surrounding villages and lashed children to the fronts of military vehicles. They pushed women at gunpoint toward the city. When the Peshmerga witnessed these cowardly acts by the soldiers, they left the city because they did not want to kill innocent people, especially children.

The repressive political environment created by various Iraqi regimes pursued a catastrophic strategy based on self-delusion. This type of grandiose fantasy brought misery, disparity, disappointment, and bloodshed upon the Iraqi people, with the harshest suffering borne by the Kurdish people.

Without the Kurds’ sacrifices, gallantry, and valor during these difficult times, it would have been impossible for the nation to exist.

Perhaps both historic occasions should be proclaimed as national holidays to honor those who dared to pay the ultimate price for democracy, freedom, and liberty for the Kurdish people.

Omar Sindi, a senior writer, analyst and columnist for iKurd.net, Washington, United States.

The opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of iKurd.net or its editors.