ERBIL () — On the 65th anniversary of the September Revolution, President Masoud Barzani on Friday paid tribute to the late Kurdish leader Mustafa Barzani and the Peshmerga and civilians who took part in the historic uprising, saying the revolution became a source of strength and inspiration for subsequent stages of the Kurdish struggle.
In a statement marking the anniversary, President Barzani described the September Revolution as a broad national and democratic movement that brought together different segments of Kurdish society, including Peshmerga, politicians, organizations, religious scholars, teachers, writers, intellectuals, youth, and women.
He said the revolution emerged from the will, self-confidence, and dignity of the people of Kurdistan and established an organized foundation for their continued struggle against oppression.
“This great revolution, through its profound values and the unparalleled perseverance and resilience of its leadership, Peshmerga, and people, advanced our people’s just cause and became a source of strength for subsequent stages and for Kurdish fighters across other parts of Kurdistan,” President Barzani said.
President Barzani also expressed gratitude to the Peshmerga and other fighters who contributed to the revolution, including those who were killed, those who later passed away, and those who remain living witnesses to its history.
He described the revolution’s heroes as “the seeds from which their people’s achievements grew” and said they remain a source of pride.
The September Revolution began in 1961 under the leadership of Mustafa Barzani and became one of the longest and most significant armed national movements in modern Kurdish history.
The movement brought together communities across political, ethnic, and religious lines in pursuit of Kurdish national rights. It also helped organize the Peshmerga into a structured force and established administrative, judicial, educational, and cultural institutions in areas under its control.
The revolution contributed to the March 11, 1970 Agreement between Baghdad and the Kurdish leadership, which recognized Kurdish autonomy and granted the Kurdish language official status alongside Arabic in Kurdish areas.
Sixty-five years after its launch, the September Revolution remains a defining chapter in modern Kurdish history and is remembered for its role in advancing Kurdish political, cultural, and national rights.
