Irak : la résistance kurde contre les mollahs iraniens | ARTE Reportage

Peshmerga women are hidden in secret camps in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan to protect them from Iranian missile and drone strikes.

• Farzana has been in the camp for 4 years and mentors newcomers • Rogina, 19, left Iran 4 months ago after being marked by 2022 autumn protests • She lost acquaintances during protests and feared arrest and torture

The slogan 'Woman, Life, Freedom' originated in Kurdistan and spread to Persian cities and around the world, demonstrating that women's engagement was essential to the movement's success.

Cutting hair at the funerals of martyrs has become a strong symbol for women's rights and protest against the repressive Iranian regime worldwide.

In September, Iran issued an ultimatum to Iraq and the Kurdish government demanding complete disarmament of opposition groups and relocation away from the Iranian border.

• PDKI forces retreated to mountains and now live in small groups of about ten members to avoid Iranian radar • Their daily life consists of waiting and uncertainty • Most have little news from family and did not experience the major protests in Iran

Rogina witnessed brutal crackdowns during demonstrations where people were severely injured and killed, triggering widespread public anger against the regime.

The revolution extends beyond women's rights to include freedom of expression, individual rights, and Kurdish rights against a repressive system.

One year prior, 37 Iranian missiles and drones struck PDKI bases and civilian refugee camps, killing dozens. The Camp Azadi near Koya still bears the scars of these attacks.

• Zagar, 29-year-old former peshmerga, was gravely wounded by missile fire on September 28, 2022 • His wife, eight months pregnant, was killed in the same strike • A UN-run school was destroyed five minutes after children were evacuated

Zagar's dream of living peacefully with his wife and son was destroyed. He now survives traumatized by physical and psychological injuries, facing multiple surgeries.

Zagar grieves his wife and the son he never met. He can only remember seeing his wife at the morgue and his son during his funeral, struggling to accept they are gone.

Several party members were recently mysteriously assassinated near their homes. The PDKI holds Iranian infiltrated agents responsible for these killings.

Iran's growing influence over Iraq concerns the opposition, especially as a Shia pro-Iran coalition has dominated the country since recent elections, threatening the future of the autonomous region.

Iranian officials demand complete disarmament and relocation of opposition groups away from Iran's borders, issuing warnings and sending monitoring teams.

Since the Iranian ultimatum demanding disarmament of opposition groups, tension has escalated among peshmerga ranks who monitor the sky with constant apprehension.

Evin, 21, took up arms four years ago. He and his unit change positions daily to avoid detection by Iranian aircraft.

• Peshmerga sleep under rocks in harsh mountain terrain with minimal shelter • They sleep in different locations each night to evade detection • They receive supplies from comrades who bring equipment and materials to isolated positions

The PDKI has limited financial means but manages to provide honorable living conditions. They operate with only light weapons to prepare for possible ground attacks.

Evin crossed the border illegally to fight for freedom and people's rights. He remains committed to eventually returning victorious to a liberated Iran free from the mullah regime.

Evin's last image of home is his father drinking tea and watching television while his mother and sisters sat nearby. He left at midnight to join the fight.

Evin's presence in the camps threatens the lives of his family in Iran. He attempts to get news about his country through the opposition channel Iran International based in London, despite network problems.

• The experience of fighting in the camps represents an open-air laboratory of gender equality • Men and women are equal in all domains • Fraternity and equal respect are valued regardless of gender

Kurdistan is geographically situated in the Middle East surrounded by Iran, Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. The Kurdish people have been divided among these countries, with each nation exploiting resources and waging war on their territory.

Around Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, there are many refugee camps housing people who fled Iranian Kurdish regions, some for several decades. Camp Jesinan hosts about 500 civilian PDKI sympathizers.

• Ali, 52-year-old religious figure, fled Iran years ago after receiving 200 lashes for preaching against the regime • He was imprisoned and escaped to the camps • He serves as mediator between families in the camp and provides spiritual guidance at mealtimes

The majority of camp residents have been persecuted or tortured by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Iranian regime is characterized as barbaric and violates fundamental rights. Contact with family in Iran risks arrest and punishment for loved ones.

• Ali's father died in prison, tortured by the regime • During a wedding celebration with many guests, the regime attacked after Ali's father was denounced as a political activist • Guests were wounded while dancing, one brother was killed, another permanently disabled

Despite risks threatening both people in camps and families in Iran, the PDKI does not cede ground. They continue fighting the mullah regime in their own ways, regardless of the cost.

For now, the situation is characterized more by waiting than combat, but their engagement directly continues the long tradition of Kurdish resistance.

Beyond Iranian threats, the Kurdish region faces quasi-daily military offensives from Turkey, which pursues its own opponents in the same territory.

• Fighters believe they will eventually win • They expect the situation in Iran to change significantly within 10 years • If women remain mobilized, they are confident in success despite the difficulty and pressure • The mountains continue to unite the people in their shared struggle for freedom