The Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) Foreign Relations Officer Zegrus Enderyarî spoke to ANF about the conflict between Israel and Iran, ongoing since June 13 with mutual bombardments that have resulted in casualties, including civilians, on both sides.

According to Enderyarî, this process goes beyond a military conflict for Iran and a deepening crisis for the Iranian people: “The Iranian people are already suffering under economic sanctions, political oppression, and harsh living conditions. Now this war is increasing the burden on the people many times over.”

‘The regime may target social organization’

Enderyarî pointed out that the situation in Rojhilat (Eastern) Kurdistan has deteriorated in a similar manner as the Iranian state turns inward during every crisis and targets revolutionary and progressive groups in particular.

He stated: “The ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ (Woman, Life, Freedom) revolution created great social energy in Iran. It created great social solidarity and resistance. The regime may now use the Israeli attack as an excuse to target this solidarity. Pressure on political prisoners, community leaders, and revolutionaries may intensify, and executions may increase.”

‘We will not leave our people alone and defenseless’

Emphasizing the necessity for people to organize and unite during this process, Zegrus Enderyarî said, “Social organization is essential everywhere to resist the Iranian regime’s attempts to intimidate the people. As PJAK, we have been working with this awareness for years, and we are organized. We will not leave our people alone and defenseless. We are ready in every field, we are organized, and we have the capacity to ensure our social defense.”

‘Rojhilat forces must act together’

Enderyarî stated that the chaos in the Middle East and the war between Iran and Israel must be carefully evaluated from the perspective of the Kurds, and called on the Kurdish politics, especially the forces in Rojhilat, to act together in response.

“After the ‘Jin, Jiyani Azadî’ revolution, a more concrete basis for unity among Kurdish forces has been established under the leadership of PJAK. This unity is vitally important for our people. In this war environment, this solidarity is of vital importance for our people,” he underlined.

‘We are not a party to the war’

Erderyarî stated that the Rojhilat Kurds and other parts of Kurdistan do not want to become involved in the war in the Middle East in any way, saying:

“We defend the political approach of the ‘third way’ in the Middle East, outside of the existing power structures and conflictual politics. We defend a model of governance based on the unity and local administration of peoples. We are not a party to the war, nor do we want to make our peoples a part of these conflicts. The solution lies in the establishment of a democratic life for all peoples. We propose a common life, democratic autonomy and local governance for all ethnic and religious communities in Iran, not just for the Kurdish people. The Iranian regime maintains its rule by creating contradictions between peoples. We are pursuing a policy that will eliminate these contradictions and is based on the solidarity of the peoples. We believe that a common life is possible through a democratic, locally rooted, and people-centered system, and we want to implement it.”