Mustafa Barzani

[kurdeng at aps.nl]

------------------ Forwarded from : Alex Atroushi <etxatro> --------------------

MUSTAFA   BARZANI  14 . 03 . 1903 - 01 . 03 .1979

The most prominent Kurdish national leader, Mustafa
Barzani, was President of the Kurdistan Democratic
Party (KDP) when died on 1 St. March 1979. His death
Occurred at George Town Hospital, Washington DC,
And the body was flown to Iran and buried at Shuno
( Ashnovia ) in Kurdistan, Western Iran. Hundreds
Of thousands of Kurds and others mourned him .
His memory will remain alive in the hearts of millions
Of Kurds who support the aims he struggled for... All his
Life.
Barzani will remain a towering figure in the history
of Kurdish people.

BIOGRAPHY
- Born in the village of Barzan on 14 th March 1903.
- Detained with his mother in Mosul Prison in 1906,
After uprising against the Ottoman rule.
- Took part in Sheikh Mahmoud's uprising in 1919
commanding a 300 man force.
- Visited Sheikh Said Piran ( in north Kurdistan ) as
A representative of his elder brother, Sheikh Ahmad
( Sheikh Said led the Kurdish uprising in 1925 ).
- Commanded Barzan forces resisting the Iraqi
Government campaign, supported by British forces,
Against the Kurds in 1932. Then he and a number of
Pesh Margas went to Turkey. Sheikh Ahmad was
Arrested and handed over to the Iraqi authorities.
During the same year, he returned  to Mosul
And was arrested.
- He was banished to various towns between
1932 and 1943.
- Managed to escape, with the help of Hiwa Party
And other Kurds, and returned to Barzan.
- Led the Barzan uprising against Iraqi regime,
Which were directly helped by the British Royal Air Forces,
in 1945.
- In the same year, he and his forces went to
Mahabad and participated in the consolidation
Of the Mahabad Republic.
He was appointed Commander of the Republic's
Army and given the rank of General by the former
Soviet Union.
- In 1946 he and other Kurds founded the KDP and
Was elected its President. He was President of the
Party from that time until his death 1979.
- Fought the forces of defunct Shah and after
The collapse of Mahabad Republic, with the help of
Britain and the USA, he and 500 of the Pesh Mergas
Fought the armies of Iran, Iraq and Turkey and
Reached the former Soviet Union, where they
Became refugees until 1958.
- He and his  Pesh Merga returned to Iraq on
6th October 1958, i.e. After the 14th July revolution.
He welcomed by Kurdish and Iraqi popular masses,
As well as officially, as a national hero.
- Led the September Revolution from 11th September
1961 until the collapse in March 1975.
- During the 8th February 1963 Black Coup by the
Bath Party, Barzani welcomed all Iraqi, Kurdish ,
Arab and other minorities patriots to the liberated
Areas.
- The Kurdish national movement, under Barzani's
Leadership, signed the 11th March 1970 agreement
With Iraqi government, stipulating autonomy for
Kurdish within Iraq, which the government
Subsequently reneged.
- After the collapse of March 1975, Barzani lived
In Iran for a time under many restrictions.
- Because of failing health and his distrust of the
Shah, he went to USA  to receive treatment for
his lung cancer and remained there until his death.
- He had decided to return to Kurdistan via Iran 1979.
- Died in the late hours of Thursday, the 1st of March 1979 and subsequently
buried in  Shuno ( Ashnoviya in Kurdistan ).  
A massive crowd of people took part in his funeral, and 1994 his body is moved
to Barzan where he was born.


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