Rêwar Melikşahî, a fighter of the Eastern Kurdistan Defense Units (YRK), spoke to ANF about the Iranian state's policies towards the Kurdish youth and the Freedom Movement.

The guerrilla fighter, a member of Ilam Kelhorîs, stressed that young people of Rojhilat (Iranian Kurdistan) should be careful against the special war policies of the Iranian state.

Melikşahi pointed out that the Iranian state is waging a special war in the entire Kurdistan, particularly in Ilam and Kermanshah. “The people of Ilam are known for their devotion to the Kurdish identity and unity. However, Iran has introduced so many special war policies that the capitalist modernity system is increasingly gaining a place in society. Ilam and the people of Kurdistan in general need to raise a historical, cultural and social awareness and preserve their values,” he said.

Addressing the ongoing invasion attacks in four parts of Kurdistan, the YRK fighter said, “All parts of Kurdistan have been invaded. Both the invaders and the capitalist modernity system escalate their attacks against Kurdistan and the Kurdish people. We, the Kurdistan Freedom guerrillas, respond to these attacks and do not allow enemy forces to expand the occupation of Kurdistan. Based on the revolutionary people's war strategy, our people will govern themselves and oppose occupation. We know that our people also seek the freedom of Kurdistan, and we have to fight hard to achieve it. The aim of the invading states, Iran, Syria, Turkey, Iraq and others that cooperate with them, is to eradicate Kurdistan. Our people should understand what the enemy wants. The invaders have taken all the resources of our lands for themselves, leaving our people in poverty and misery. They are burning our forests in all four parts of Kurdistan and killing our people every day. We are fighting these occupying forces and we will always do so. We will never allow the occupying forces to achieve their goals. However, in order to understand the reality of the war in Kurdistan, our people also need to be careful against their enemies.”

THIS WAR CHANGED THE KURDISH PEOPLE’S FATE

In reference to the guerrilla resistance in Zap, Avaşîn and Metîna, the YRK fighter stated that there is a life-or-death struggle in the mountains of Kurdistan. Pointing to the historic resistance against the Turkish state, he stated, “As the youth of Rojhilat Kurdistan, we need to embrace this resistance. This war has changed and continues to change the fate of all the peoples of the Middle East, in particular the Kurdish people. It is Kurdish leader Öcalan's ideology and philosophy that have paved the way for these developments.”

He continued, “We see that the capitalist modernity system employs all kinds of methods to prevent this philosophy from spreading to the world. To this end, they impose an aggravated isolation on Öcalan. They brutally attack the freedom movement and pro-freedom people. The Kurdish people, especially the Ilam community, should rise up and fight this occupation. Actions should be expanded for the physical freedom of Öcalan and the freedom of Kurdistan.”

INVADERS CONTROL ALL THE RESOURCES OF KURDISTAN

Guerrilla Melikşahî emphasized that the Kurdish people should take a stance against the invasion attacks. “Currently, all the resources of Kurdistan are under the control of the invaders. The Kurdish people live in poverty and the young Kurds are desperate. This policy is being pursued in every region of Kurdistan, but Iran focuses on it even more. Iranian authorities make young people addicted to drugs so that they do not revolt. Iran does not want us to know our history. It seeks to distance us from our reality. It is waging a meticulous special war in all of Kurdistan, particularly in Ilam and Kermanshah. The people of Ilam are known for their devotion to the Kurdish identity and unity. However, Iran has introduced so many special war policies that the capitalist modernity system is increasingly gaining a place in society. The people of Ilam and Kurdistan in general need to raise a historical, cultural and social awareness and preserve their values. The Kurdish, Balochi, Azeri, Persian peoples and other peoples should stand against the occupation. In particular, the Kurdish and Iranian young people should join the ongoing Cenga Azadiyê Campaign."