The 1991 Kurdistan Uprising was a historic turning point, leading to liberation, self-governance, and President Barzani’s pivotal leadership.
The remembrance of the Kurdistan Uprising is a historical occasion, and within the history of the Kurdish people, it is commemorated every year with great significance. It has now been 34 years since the 1991 Uprising of the Kurdistan Region, which began in Raniya and, within just 15 days, liberated the entire Kurdistan Region, including the city of Kirkuk, from the grip of the Ba’ath regime. This victory resulted from the unity of the people and the collective stance of political forces, which enabled the liberation of Kurdistan’s territory in a short period and ended the occupying force’s rule.
The Kurdistan Front
After the tragedies of the Anfal campaign, chemical attacks, displacement, and Arabization in 1988, the Kurdistan Front was formed, consisting of seven parties and factions in the Kurdistan Region. The two strongest components of the Kurdistan Front were the two main parties—the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Three years after its establishment, and amidst an internal and international context, the 1991 Uprising of the Kurdistan Region’s people began in Raniya. At that time, President Barzani was the head of the Kurdistan Front. He led the uprising from Raniya to Kirkuk, making the uprising both his vision and his initiative. The first meeting of Kurdish parties took place in Rajan, where a plan was outlined and dispatched to all cities. President Barzani wrote hundreds of letters to different cities, urging them to prepare for the uprising. His leadership in the field played a crucial role in mobilizing the people of Kurdistan to rise against the Ba’ath regime and ultimately cleanse Kurdistan from its rule.
How did the uprising happen?
The uprising was a historic and transformative event that marked a major turning point for the Kurdish people, resulting in a great achievement—the establishment of the Kurdistan Parliament and Regional Government, both outcomes of the people’s collective uprising.
Although the uprising officially began on March 5, 1991, in Raniya—known as the “Gateway to the Uprising”—its first spark was ignited on March 3 of the same year at the Khabat and Kalaki refugee camps near Erbil, where clashes erupted between protesters and police forces. The confrontation resulted in the police being overrun, and control of the station was taken by the protesters. The regime responded with force, leading to the martyrdom of Mohammed Farouq and Bakhtiar, while two others were seriously injured.
On the morning of March 5, 1991, at 9:00 AM, the uprising of the Kurdish people officially began in Raniya. Crowds gathered in the streets and squares, using mosque loudspeakers and radios to call for the revolt. By 3:00 P.M., government institutions were overrun, and Raniya was liberated from the regime. On the same day, Chwarqurna, Hajiawa, the Bitwen plains, and the Sarkap military base were also liberated. In Chwarqurna alone, 50 members of the regime were killed, and 100 civilians were martyred, while many regime soldiers were captured. This day is etched in Kurdish history as the day of the uprising, with Raniya forever remembered as the gateway to the revolution.
The Uprising sent message to the enemies of Kurdistan
The uprising was a significant historical process that emerged as the result of the Kurdish people’s struggle and sacrifices. The achievements of the uprising were numerous, with the most notable being the establishment of the Kurdistan Parliament and Regional Government. The uprising was a historic turning point in the Kurdish liberation movement, culminating from decades of struggle against the oppression of the Ba’ath regime, including village destruction, the Anfal campaign, chemical attacks, and all forms of tyranny imposed on the Kurdish people. The uprising sent a clear message to the enemies of Kurdistan that the Kurdish people would never accept subjugation or oppression. It was a defining stage in the Kurdish national movement, where all segments of Kurdish society—men, women, the elderly, and children—participated in the struggle.
President Barzani’s historic speech
On March 14, President Massoud Barzani delivered his historic speech in Koya, announcing the upcoming elections and the establishment of the Kurdistan Parliament to the people of the Kurdistan Region, allowing them to determine their governance.
The echoes of this speech reached international institutions and the global community, which led to the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 688 in April of the same year. This resolution resulted in the establishment of the “No-Fly Zone” above the 36th parallel, creating a protected area in the Kurdistan Region. This played a crucial role in forcing Iraqi forces to withdraw, facilitating the return of displaced Kurdish people, and enabling the first parliamentary elections in Kurdistan.
One year after the uprising, the Kurdish leadership embarked on a democratic experiment in self-governance for the Kurdistan Region. On May 19, 1992, elections were held for the Kurdistan Parliament. Despite the political challenges and internal difficulties at the time, this was a significant achievement for the Kurdish people, as for the first time in history, Kurds had their own parliament and government. During the years of self-rule, beyond implementing various development projects, Kurdish political leadership succeeded in expanding its diplomatic relations with countries worldwide, bringing Kurdish rights to the center of international political discussions.
The Kurdish Globe