Iranian Kurds call for solidarity among region’s minorities at Netherlands conference

An international conference titled ‘Unity and Solidarity of Kurds in Eastern [Iranian] Kurdistan’ was held in the city of Tilburg, Netherlands on 26-27 April with the participation of political activists from Kurdish-majority regions of Iran (known as Rojhilat), academics, civil society activists and experts. The conference, organised by Kurdish institutions in Europe, was convened with the aim to assess the latest political, social and cultural developments in Iran and to explore ways to strengthen unity between the region’s minorities.

The two-day conference was opened by Aziz Mamle and Dimen Sohrabi, who welcomed participants and stressed the importance of solidarity and cohesion among Kurdish forces, particularly in the current fragile climate. They emphasised that the profound political and social changes taking place in the region present a critical opportunity, creating space for renewed dialogue and alliance-building.

The first session, titled ‘Political and Social Conditions in Eastern Kurdistan and Iran’, was chaired by Soheila Qaderi and focused on recent developments, the state of civil society, government repression, social change, and the broader political climate. The presentations were followed by a lively question-and-answer session, fostering an open exchange of views among participants.

The second panel, titled ‘The Women’s Revolution: Woman, Life, Freedom and Its Continuity’ and chaired by Base Shamari, analysed the impact of the Jin, Jiyan, Azadî movement on women’s rights, the importance of public support for women’s demands, the situation of women in Iranian Kurdistan, the role of the Yarsan community – an ancient faith with Zoroastrian roots – alongside other minorities within the movement. The panel concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session.

The second day began with ‘The Future of Eastern Kurdistan and Kurdish Unity’, chaired by Dimen Sohrabi. Panellist’s discussions focused on future opportunities and threats facing Iranian Kurdistan, the need to establish a shared framework for cooperation among political activists in Eastern Kurdistan, the role of the Kurdish diaspora in supporting the struggle, and the importance of fostering national discourse while avoiding internal divisions.

The conference concluded with a strong call for unity among political activists and movements in Eastern Kurdistan. A final statement emphasised the defence of human rights, women’s rights and civil liberties, the importance of constructive dialogue with other oppressed groups in Iran, and the need to strengthen international ties in support of the Kurdish people’s legitimate demands.

Ahmed Karamus, co-chair of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), closed the event with a speech expressing gratitude for the broad participation of individuals and organisations. He voiced hope that the conference’s outcomes would help build greater unity and a stronger role for the Iranian Kurdistan community in future regional developments. He also stressed the importance of continuing such gatherings to deepen solidarity across all the Kurdish-majority regions.