Iranian Kurdish parties hiding in Iraq, which support protests against the government in Iran, announced on Sunday that they are forming a political coalition with the aim of “to overthrow the Islamic Republic“ and guarantee the self-determination of the Kurds, reported Agence France-Presse.
The factions of the Iranian Kurdish opposition, designated as “terrorist“ and “separatist“ organizations by Tehran, are based in the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region, on the border with Iran. They have been repeatedly targeted by Iran.
The five factions said in a press release that they had decided to join forces to “confirm their presence in the context of the current political situation in Iran, where the regime of the Islamic Republic has lost all political legitimacy, but unfortunately remains in power“.
In order to support the protest, which was suppressed with repression by the Iranian authorities in January, “coordinated and joint political efforts on the ground between Kurdish political parties, civil society organizations and other groups in Iran“ are needed, the Kurdish formations believe.
The alliance, called the “Coalition of Political Forces in Iranian Kurdistan“, includes the Kurdistan Liberation Party, the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan and political movements „Komala“ and „Habat“.
However, the Ministry of Interior of the autonomous Iraqi region assured that „it will not allow anyone to use Kurdistan against a neighboring country“.
In January, Kurdish groups in Iraqi Kurdistan called for a general strike in support of the protests against the government in Tehran.