Details of Mulla Mustafa Barzani’s Letter to General Charles de Gaulle

ARK News.. A historical document dating back to February 1968 has revealed the details of a “moving” letter sent by the historic Kurdish liberation leader, Mullah Mustafa Barzani, to then-French President General Charles de Gaulle.

The letter, written at a time when the Kurdish people were enduring harsh conditions, carried deep political and humanitarian significance, portraying France as “the Kurds’ last hope.”

At the beginning of his message, Mullah Mustafa Barzani employed a highly diplomatic tone, introducing himself as “an elderly man who dedicated his life to the dignity and freedom of his people,” and addressing General de Gaulle as “the greatest warrior and liberator of France.”

Barzani highlighted that de Gaulle, as a global symbol who championed the principle of self-determination and opposed all forms of oppression, was best positioned to understand the Kurds’ ongoing six-year struggle in the mountains.

In a strategic diplomatic move, Barzani recalled de Gaulle’s criticisms of the Vietnam War, urging the French president to consider the Kurdish cause with the same humanitarian standards. He wrote: “You can empathize with the harsh war that the Kurds are waging in the mountains of northern Iraq… I am confident that the fate of the Kurds is no less important to you than that of the Vietnamese.”

The letter depicted the tragic international situation of the Kurds at the time, describing their isolation in the struggle for survival, noting that the United Nations ignored their plight while world powers competed to supply the Iraqi government with weapons.

Barzani directly warned France against arming Baghdad, stating: “Iraq requests weapons from France without resolving the Kurdish issue, and these weapons will only be used for destruction and the mass killing of our women and children.”

The letter concluded on a spiritual and humanitarian note, emphasizing hope and trust. Barzani described de Gaulle and France as “the refuge and clear horizon upon which the Kurds place their hopes,” writing: “Every man has in his soul a sanctuary of hope and peace,” affirming that France represents this sanctuary for the Kurdish nation.

This document reflects Mulla Mustafa Barzani’s strategic vision and deep understanding of international dynamics, as well as his relentless efforts to secure moral and political support for the Kurdish cause at a time when Kurds were under severe military and political pressure.

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