Süheyla Qazi, the daughter of Qazi Muhammed, the founder of the Kurdish Republic of Mahabad, passed away on Friday in Bonn. Süheyla Qazi, who was born in Mahabad on 11 July 1941, died in exile where she had been living for more than 40 years.

Süheyla Qazi, who came to Amed to attend the Kurdish Women's Conference organized by the Democratic Free Women's Movement (DÖKH) in 2010, said in an interview with the Dicle News Agency (DIHA), later closed by Statutory Decree (KHK): "I am longing for the day I will return to my country".

Süheyla Qazi, who was 7 years old when her father was executed, said that she remembers very little about that period. Stating that she could barely remember her father's face because she was too small, Qazi said: "I remember my father as in the pictures that were left behind and published after he was executed. After he was killed, the pressure on the family never eased. We went through very difficult times. Iranian soldiers were constantly raiding our house. Sometimes for weeks. They were staying around our house. They didn't even let us get water from outside. They didn't allow anyone to come to our house and contact us."

Their houses were plundered, Qazi said, adding that even her belongings were taken away. "They confiscated all the archives of the Republic of Mahabat. They took all kinds of documents, pictures, maps, etc. that can be counted as our memory."

Qazi said: "My father once said that whenever I was asked what my nation was, I should reply ‘my womanhood.’ Now when I think about it, I understand better. This shows how much he valued women. The people had love for our family. They were helpful. My mother was a brave person.

At that time, not only the Iranian state but also many other powers had their eyes on the family. Especially America, England and other neighbouring countries. "

'America wanted to take us to their country'

Süheyla Qazi said that she learned later that some US officials came to her family after the execution of Qazi Muhammed, because they wanted to take the family to the US.

Qazi said: "They asked my mother for permission to take us to their country. The same request came from England. They promised to give all kinds of help. They wanted to separate us from our people. Of course, they also have other purposes. However, my mother refused because she wanted her children to grow up among the Kurdish people. Because my mother was very devoted to the people. She was proud of the Kurdish people. This was a chance for me. Because I grew up among Kurdish children."

'They were taking revenge on us because of my father'

Qazi said that her sister also died in a bomb attack in Sweden, and added that her mother, Mina Qazi, was arrested at the age of 85. "We didn't hear from her for a year. They tortured my mother. They were constantly arresting some of our family members. The same questions they asked family members who stayed in prisons for years. They always said, 'This problem wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Qazi Muhammed.' They were taking revenge for this. They were saying that my father had set a very 'bad' path for the Kurds." Stating that the pressures have not decreased even after 20 years, Qazi said that she did not withstand these pressures after getting married and that she had to immigrate in 1979 because of the danger of being killed.

'We will succeed if we unite'

In the interview, Qazi said that she left her country and lived in exile for 31 years. "They did not let us live a single peaceful day. Because exile does not provide a peaceful life. I live with longing for my country all the time. However, I still cannot return to my country. I live with the longing to return to my country. I believe that the Kurdish people will gain their rights. If we ensure our unity and solidarity, we will succeed."