My Memoirs on the Kurdistan Republic of Mahabad
Abdullah Ahmad Rasul Pishderi
Translation House Directorate
Some of my precious colleagues proposed to me to write down my memoirs and record the events I have seen, participated, or experienced. In effect, I decided to write this book to be of some use to the Kurdish historians and fill up some gaps in the history of our revolutions.
It is note worthy that I had the honor of practical participation in two revolutions: The Iranian Kurdistan Revolution of 1946 and the establishment of Kurdistan Republic of Mahabad and the Iraqi Kurdistan’s “September 11th. Revolution of 1961” led by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP-lraq) ...
Contents
Preface / 8
Acknowledgement / 10
An Explanation to the Reader / 11
Foreword / 12
Introduction / 14
About my Life and Pishder Tribe / 15
Pishder Area and Mir-Awdal Tribe / 18
Increase of Pishder Tribe and the Establishment of the Council of Nobles / 20
Battle Against the Ottoman Turks / 25
Battle Against the Czarist Russians / 28
Fighting Against the British Troops / 30
Battles Against the Iranian Government / 33
The Attitude of the Pishder Tribe on the Nationalmovements Isma’il Khan Shikak’s Movement / 35
Sheikh Mahmud Hafid’s Movement / 36
Kurdistan Republic of Mahabad / 37
The Pishder Tribe and the Iraqi Kingdom / 39
Administration Formation in Pishder / 40
My Travel to Mahabad / 43
Mahabad Republic: Its Establishment and Its Collapse46 Kurdish and the Soviet Negotiation in Baku / 49
Kurdish Representatives visit Baku Again / 51
Arrival of the Soviet Arms and Ammunition / 54
Barzani’s Arrival to Iran / 56
Proclamation of Mahabad Republic / 58
Formation of the Cabinet in Nahabad Republic / 60
Republic of Nahabad and Journalism / 62
Cultural Movement and Its Role in the Educational Process / 64
Saqqiz Battle between Iranian Troops and Kurdish Army / 65
The Extensive Meeting in Nahabad and the Ceasefire / 67
Escorting Zero Beg to Mahabad / 69
Tehran Negotiation / 71
Qawam-al-Sultana Dupes USSR / 73
Sending Kurdish Students to Baku for Training / 75
Ny Decision to travel to Baku / 76
Attitude of Chiefs of Tribes / 78
Barzani’s Political and Military Attitude / 80
Returning to Iraq with the Assent of Qazi Mohamed / 82
Renewal of Battle between Mahabad Republic and Iran / 84
Rout of Republics of Mahabad and Azerbaijan / 89
The Sardasht Front / 91
Qazi Mohamed’s Declaration / 92
Our Departure from Mir Sheikh Heyder village towards Iraq / 94
The Situation after the fall of the Republic and Barzani’s Attitude / 96
Barzani and Shah’s Negotiation Renewal of Battle between the Iranian Army and the Barzanis / 100
Hanging Qazi Mohamed and his Companions / 102
How Mulla Mustafa Arrived the Soviet Union? / 104
Elucidation / 106
An Evaluation of Qazi Mohamed / 107
Negative Sides of Qazi Mohamed and His Companions / 109
PREFACE
By: Mohamed Bedri*
Abdullah Pishderi narrates his memoirs in a spontaneous and transparent style - discarding all types of ambiguity and complications. When the reader goes through this interesting and bitter journey, he finds himself in front of a man who could have lived a luxurious life - away from destitute and hardship. The writer of these memoirs has felt in his depth the national and patriotic feeling since his youth. The power of truth was in his blood pushing him to encounter with a life full of surprise and ups and downs. As such, he chose truth and struggle as ways of life.
We find Abdullah Pishderi revolting for the cause and the justice of his nation carrying the arms and crossing the border to defend the Republic of Mahabad in Iranian Kurdistan so as to enjoy the bliss with the Kurdish masses who shouted with all their voices for the Mahabad Revolution and their victory against the disgusted rule of the Shah of Iran. Then this happiness turns sour and the joy is spoiled with tears, blood and suffering. He suffers as he sees the fall of this mature tree that yielded no fruit.
In these memoirs we find that Pishderi giving us a glimpse about his tribe and its role in the history of Kurds and Kurdistan. He tells us this not because he is biased for it or he prefers his clan and district to others; and not because he is prejudiced against the misconduct of some of the Aghas, but to give us a synopsis of these facts supported by dates and evidences. Then he speaks about the Republic of Mahabad in details, the prevalent situation there, the international policy, and preparation for the establishment of the Republic, its proclamation, and all the causes that led to its fall. Then in full he tells us facts about Qazi Mohamed’s life including both positive and negative aspects.
The significance of these memoirs lies in recounting great events that the Kurdish nation experienced throughout its struggle for freedom. In addition, they are the memoirs of a militant man who dedicated nearly fifty years of his life for defending the cause of his nation and his land. Thus, these memoires are the gist of the experience of all these long years. They are worth reading and discussion.
* Mohamed Bedri is the translator of these Memoires from Kurdish into Arabic.
Acknowledgement
From the depth of my heart I would like to express my gratitude to the noble feelings and attitude of Dr. Barham Salih, Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister for his wisely decision of translating my Memoirs on The Kurdistan Republic of Mahabad from Arabic into English.
This is an invaluable service to our and the Kudristan history. Besides, it proves the sincerity and loyalty of his Excellency who is ever ready to serve his country and his nation in all fields.
Once more I thank him and I think that such a great feat only becomes educated and intelligent persons and not every one.
Abdullah Pishderi
An Explanation to the Reader
These memoires were originally in Kurdish. When Dr. Bedir Khan Sindi was the Director General of the Kurdish Culture House in Baghdad in 1992, the censorship on the Kurdish Publications were strict and at its apex, but he could bravely and wisely publish these memoires of mine.
Again when My Memoires were translated into English, he compared the revised version to the Arabic text of it.
Indeed, I am very grateful to this educated and patriotic man and I hope that we have more people like him to serve our country and nation.
Abdullah Pishderi
Foreword*
Kurdish struggle for freedom from tranny, suppression and extermination dates back to centuries, but after World War I and division of Kurdistan, Kurdish people entered a new stage of a bitter struggle against the dominant states for the purpose of living and being dealt with as human beings. Kurds were driven to start a series of uprisings and revolutions such as: Sheikh Sai’d Piran, Agri and Darsim in Turkey, Sheikh Ahmad Barzani, Sheikh Mahmud Hafid and September 11th, 1961 under the leadership of Mulla Mustafa Barzani in Iraq, as well as Isma’il Khan Shikak and Mahabad Republic in Iran.
Iraq, Iran, and Turkey did their utmost to annihilate Kurdish nation by means of genocide, chemical weapons, displacement, environment destruction, and many other brutal measures. The only loyal friend of the Kurds, as Barzani said, was the mountain of Kurdistan. Regional and Western states always used Kurds and Kurdish issue as a card to be played for their own interests. Moreover, they triggered and continue to trigger internal controversies and disputes among the Kurdish political powers and social classes in order to easily overcome the Kurdish quest for freedom. Besides, this book definitely attests to Kurdish home solidarity and cooperation.
This book could be trusted as a document since an eyewitness of the accounts writes them, and is enriched by many other credible sources.
The purpose behind this translation is to acquaint concerned parties and foreign readers with a limited era of Kurdish struggle, and to inform all the people of the world that there is a nation of 35 millions called “Kurds” still deprived of its minor legal rights.
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Barham Salih, Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, and Mr. Fatah Zakhoyi the Minister of Culture who provided me the honor of translating this book. Furthermore, I thank Mr. Azad Hamad Sharef who revised the translated draft in addition to translating 50 pages of these memoires.
* The Forward is written by Salman Ali, the translator of these memoires from Arabic into English.
Introduction
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Some of my precious colleagues proposed to me to write down my memoirs and record the events I have seen, participated, or experienced. In effect, I decided to write this book to be of some use to the Kurdish historians and fill up some gaps in the history of our revolutions.
It is note worthy that I had the honor of practical participation in two revolutions: The Iranian Kurdistan Revolution of 1946 and the establishment of Kurdistan Republic of Mahabad and the Iraqi Kurdistan’s “September 11th. Revolution of 1961” led by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP-lraq) and the Kurdish legendary leader Mulla Mustafa Barzani. I remained with this revolution until 1975. Due to my responsibilities at both events, I could be well aware of most of their events.
For me, this is not an endeavor to, as a historian, basically record a stage of the Kurdish history or look for references, but to quietly write about the events I have witnessed or knew of without any addition or omission. However, under the current conditions, I cannot say more.
Here, I would like to start this book with a brief record of my life and my parents as well as the origin of the Pishder tribe, its administrative and social system. Then, I shift to write on Mahabad Revolution and my participation until its collapse at the hand of the enemies of the Kurdish nation.
…..
Abdullah Ahmad Rasul Pishderi
My Memoirs on the Kurdistan Republic of Mahabad
Translation House Directorate
Ministry of Cultur
Translation House Directorate
My Memoirs on the Kurdistan Republic of Mahabad
Abdullah Ahmad Rasul Pishderi
Translated by: Salman Ali
Revised by: Azad Hama Shareef
Ministry of Cultur
Translation House Directorate
www.roshnbiri.org
khanaywargeran@yahoo.com
- My Memoirs On The Kurdistan Republic of Mahabad Written by: Abdullah Ahmad Rasul Pishderi - Translated by: Salman Ali
- Revised by: Azad Hama Shareef
- Published by: Translation House Directorate
- Designed and cover: Nazeneen Salih:
- 1st print: 1500
- Printing Press: Zeyar
- Deposition No. (126) at the Ministry of Culture
Kurdistan- Sulaimani
2004
