Iran-Israel clashes continue on its 11th day. The Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), which is active in Rojhilat (East Kurdistan) and Iran, made a statement on the atmosphere of conflict and contradiction wanted to be created between the peoples.

 

In its statement, PJAK Assembly drew attention to the Iran-Israel war. 

 

The statement reads as follows: 

 

“Recent developments and escalations in the Middle East, particularly the outbreak of war between the governments of Iran and Israel, have reached a new level. Undoubtedly, a war of such magnitude will have a historic and long-lasting impact on the fate and future of the Iranian people. This is equally true for both the Kurdish and Azerbaijani Turkish peoples. Due to the geographical proximity of Kurds and Azerbaijani Turks in areas such as Urmia, the war and related developments will have serious consequences for both peoples.

 

Throughout history, whenever the Azerbaijani Turkish and Kurdish peoples have joined forces in the face of challenges, embracing sisterhood, brotherhood, cooperation and coexistence, they have achieved remarkable outcomes. Conversely, whenever these two peoples have been divided by ill-wishers and foreign interference, both have suffered bitter and unfortunate consequences. The memory of difficult times endured through unity and joint efforts, as well as bitter times of division and tension caused by enemies and adversaries, is firmly etched in the collective memory of Kurds and Azerbaijani Turks alike.

 

In this period, with the shadow of war between the Islamic Republic and Israel looming over both peoples, it is only appropriate that we turn to our historical experiences. This will enable us to navigate this dangerous historical turning point together and emerge safely.

 

The Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK) has always endeavoured to transform the shared history of Kurds and Azerbaijani Turks into a valuable opportunity to advance freedom struggles and establish a democratic system, both in thought and in action. Now, more than ever, we are committed to this effort. This is because, amid the war engulfing Iran, the government’s security apparatus and those intent on stirring up discord between Kurds and Azerbaijani Turks are trying to spread fear and mistrust, creating atmospheres of Turkophobia and Kurdophobia among these interconnected peoples.

 

We explicitly declare that PJAK will mobilise all its resources to strengthen the valuable bond between our two peoples, minimising the damage caused by the current war. We are accountable to both peoples and will utilise all our capabilities to thwart the malicious plans of the Iranian regime and other regional adversaries.

 

In this context, we propose that Kurdish and Azerbaijani Turkish civil and grassroots organisations take the initiative in forming joint institutions. These institutions should be established in cities and regions that are the shared homeland of both peoples and work together to confront the risks and potential harms posed by this war.

 

The Free Life Party of Kurdistan is ready to cooperate with all Azerbaijani organisations seeking freedom and democracy to strengthen the spirit of democratic convergence between our two peoples. By doing so, we can fulfill our historical duty to confront the destructive effects of war on and prevent the regime and other opportunistic regional states from creating division between Kurds and Azerbaijani Turks.

 

We firmly believe that the Kurdish and Azerbaijani Turkish peoples have the ability to manage their own affairs and support each other without any outside interference. Therefore, we urge the governments of Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan to refrain from promoting any policy that portrays Kurds as a threat to the Azerbaijani Turks, if they truly care about their interests. Any attempt to foster Kurdophobia and depict Kurds as dangerous will only divert the Azerbaijani Turks’ democratic struggle in Iran from its rightful path and serve only the interests of the Islamic Republic regime.

 

We, the Free Life Party of Kurdistan, declare to the Azerbaijani Turks: you are our sisters and brothers. Rest assured that you face no threat from us. In these dangerous times, when war is spreading everywhere, we are fully committed to preventing any harm from reaching you. This is because, in our view, the freedom and realisation of the rights of the Kurdish and Azerbaijani Turkish peoples are deeply tied to the nature of the relationship between them.

 

The long-denied freedom and rights that both the Kurdish and Azerbaijani Turkish peoples have dreamed of for decades can only be achieved by extending hands of friendship, building comprehensive cooperation, navigating the current turbulent period, and constructing a shared democratic and free future. Whatever responsibilities fall to us in this regard, we will carry them out with sensitivity and vigilance. Likewise, we hope that other political and civil organisations will join us as partners and allies on this path.”