Republic of Kurdistan | ||||||||||
کۆماری کوردستان Komarî Kurdistan |
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De-facto autonomous, Soviet-allied state | ||||||||||
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Anthem Ey Reqîb Oh Enemy |
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Approximate extent of the Republic of Mahabad.
Iran is shown in dark grey. |
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Capital | Mahabad | |||||||||
Languages |
Kurdish Sorani |
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Government | Communist state | |||||||||
President | Qazi Muhammad (KDPI) | |||||||||
Prime Minister | Haji Baba Sheikh (KDPI) | |||||||||
Historical era | Cold War | |||||||||
• | Autonomy declared | January 22, 1946 | ||||||||
• | Soviet withdrawal | June 1946 | ||||||||
• | Iran establishes control | December 15, 1946 | ||||||||
• | Leaders executed | March 31, 1947 | ||||||||
Currency | Soviet ruble | |||||||||
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The Republic of Kurdistan (Kurdish: کۆماری کوردستان Komarî Kurdistan; Persian: جمهوری کردستان) was a short-lived self-governing state in present-day Iran. The Republic of Kurdistan arose alongside the Azerbaijan People's Government, a similarly short-lived state.
The capital of Republic of Kurdistan was the city of Mahabad, in northwestern Iran. The state encompassed a small territory, including Mahabad and the adjacent cities of Piranshahr and Oshnavieh. The republic's foundation and demise was a part of the Iran crisis during the opening stages of the Cold War.
Iran was invaded by the Allies in late August 1941, with the Soviets controlling the north. In the absence of a central government, the Soviets attempted to attach northwestern Iran to the Soviet Union, and promoted Kurdish nationalism. From these factors resulted a Kurdish manifesto that above all sought autonomy and self-government for the Kurdish people in Iran within the limits of the Iranian state.
In the town of Mahabad, inhabited mostly by Kurds, a committee of middle-class people supported by tribal chiefs took over the local administration. A political party called the Society for the Revival of Kurdistan (Komeley Jiyanewey Kurdistan or JK) was formed. Qazi Muhammad, head of a family of religious jurists, was elected as chairman of the party. Although the republic was not declared until December 1945, Qazi's committee administered the area for more than five years until the fall of the republic.