Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan

The Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan (Kurdish: koemhLhy shoeRshgYRy zhHmhtkYshny kwrdstny y'Yrn, written in Western letters: Komeley Sorrisgerri Zehmetkesani Kurdistani Eran), is a social democratic political party from the Kurdish region of Iran. Komala has been seeking a nonreligious democratic federal ruling system to replace the current government, which is run by religious people. This party is currently exiled in northern Iraq, where its leaders work from. Komala is a member of the International Socialist and Progressive Alliance. This is an organization that has many different social democrats, socialist, and progressive groups. Komala wants to make laws against sexual violence and to protect children during armed conflicts. Komala also wants to make laws against anti-personnel land mines.
History
The Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan started in 1969, among Kurdish leftist students and intellectuals in Tehran and some Kurdish towns. Since there was no political freedom in Iran, every political organization and even small student circles had to go into hiding and organize underground. Komala was no exception. Like all other opposition organizations of that time, especially the leftist groups of the sixties and seventies, Komala faced severe repression.
During those years many of Komala's members and its leadership experienced persecution, torture and imprisonment in the hands of SAVAK, Shah's notorious secret police, but Komala managed to survive and protect the main body of its organization and its growing network of activists. More than 9 years of hard and disciplined work prior to the outbreak of Iranian Revolution of 1978-79, bore its fruit and helped Komala build a strong and cohesive body of cadres among sections of Kurdish society. Komala managed to win over considerable amounts of Kurdish students, teachers, intellectuals and young people and to develop a significant influence and social base among workers and peasants throughout Kurdistan.
Komala actively participated in the Iranian Revolution and in fact was behind almost every demonstration and popular movement of that period. On March 16, 1979, a few days after the victory of the Revolution, Komala launched an open political party. By this time Komala had already become a major political force in Iranian Kurdistan. The birth of Komala and its rapid growth among large sections of Kurdish society in Iran, apart from its own hard work, discipline and dedication, can be attributed to a combination of social factors during a period of Iran's transition from a traditional and patriarchal society to a so-called pseudo-modern one.
Ideology
After a long and heated debate among its ranks and in public during the 1990s, finally the majority of the Komala Party's cadres and members decided on a renewal programme to adapt to new domestic and global developments. Since year 2000, Komala Party has undergone a major overhaul. This move was welcomed by the great majority of people, intellectuals, students, women, civil activists, Komala veteran activists and others.
While preserving its socialist values, Komala fights for Kurdish rights, a democratic secular pluralist federal Iran, social justice, democratic labour laws, the freedom of assembly and organization, political freedoms, democracy, human rights, women's rights and cultural and religious tolerance.
International Affiliation
Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan is currently a consultative member of the International Socialist, a worldwide organization for progressive forces including social democrats, socialists and labor parties to gather under.
Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan is also a member of the German-based Progressive Alliance, an organization with member organizations from social democrats and progressive organizations that believe in both social democracy and social progress.
Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan is a member of Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, UNPO, an international organization aimed at promoting neglected and marginalized nations. Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan joined UNPO in 2007.
National Affiliation
Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan is a member of Iran Transition Council, Congress of Nationalities for a Federal Iran, Solidarity for Freedom and Equality in Iran, the Council of Iranian Democrats. and Cooperation Center for Iranian Kurdistan Political Parties. The Secretary General of Komala, Abdulla Mohtadi, is the Secretariat for Special affairs of ITC and Nahid Bahmani, a leadership member of Komala, is the Secretariat of Ethnic Affairs of ITC.
Organizational Structure
"Komala has a collective and democratic decision-making system. Since it was founded, it has held 15 congresses in which the representatives discuss any modification or changes to the party's platform, structure and leadership among others.
The leadership council or the politburo has 5 members and the party is led by a Secretary General. There is a central or executive committee which has 25 members. Women play a major role in decision making and leadership. The leadership council has two female members currently.