- Title: IRAN: KURDS GATHER TO DEMAND SELF-RULE WITHIN IRAN.
- Date: 6th March 1979
- Summary: 1. GV PAN House TO Kurd standing on hill overlooking Mahabad. 0.10 2. GV Children with herd of goats along roads. (2 SHOTS) 0.24 3. SV Villagers and children on road in village. 0.34 4. SV Large with dogs sitting on roof of house PAN DOWN TO small girl. 0.48 5. CU Mother and child carrying goods along road PULL OUT. (2 SHOUTS) 0.58 6
- Embargoed: 20th March 1979 13:00
- Keywords:
- Access Restrictions:This media cannot be downloaded as there may be copyright restrictions. Please contact us for more information
- Location: MAHABAD, IRAN
- Country: Iran
- Reuters ID: LVAKFVVVZMAFD0PE233KMJLU06Q
- Story Text:About 200-thousand Iranian Kurds have attended a mass rally in the Kurdish political centre of Mahabad. They are urging the Government to clarify its stand towards their demand for autonomy within a Federal Iran.
SYNOPSIS: Thirty-two years ago this town of Mahabad was declared a Kurdish republic. As a republic it was short-lived, with the Iranian Kurdish activists going almost completely underground during the latter part of the Shah of Iran's rule. Now the revolution in Iran has revived hope among the Kurds that the new rulers will permit a centuries old ambition to come true -- autonomy. Kurdish religious leaders in Mahabad have presented a series of demands to the Ayatollah Khomeiny.
Mahabad is a small town in the heart of Kurdistan, not far from the Iraq border. But the Iranian Kurds are not just an Iranian issue. The ancient Kurdish frontiers stretch far into modern day Iraq, Syria, Turkey and the Soviet Union. All four governments have an interest in how Teheran handles the Kurdish demands.
Since the change of government in Iran the Kurds have had the advantage. Iran's new Assistant Prime Minister Amir Entezam reported late last month (February) that Iranian troops in Mahabad had fled their barracks which are now occupied by local people. Mr. Entezam said at the time negotiations were underway to persuade occupiers to leave peacefully. But latest reports indicate the occupation continues, despite a Government delegation to Mahabad.
This week (3 March. 1979), the Kurds went on the march to back their claims for autonomy. Two hundred thousands rallied in Mahabad, the first public display of the revival of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. THE K.D.P.'s message is clear -- they demanded autonomy within Iran, not succession. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS - SOURCE TO BE VERIFIED
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None