79th Anniversary of the Execution of Kurdish Leader Qazi Muhammad
ARK News.. Today, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, marks the 79th anniversary of the execution and martyrdom of the historic Kurdish leader Qazi Muhammad, the president of the Republic of Kurdistan, which was declared in 1946 in eastern Kurdistan with Mahabad as its capital.
Qazi Muhammad faced a summary trial and was executed after refusing to renounce his principles or abandon his cause. During his final days, he urged his people to continue their struggle for freedom, dignity, and justice, emphasizing steadfast resistance whatever the cost.
Responding to his death sentence, he famously declared that he had long prepared himself for such a day and embraced what he described as an honorable death for the freedom of his people, remaining true to his promise to live and die alongside them.
He was executed by hanging on March 31, 1947, along with Muhammad Hussein Khan Saif Qazi and Abdul Qassim Sadr Qazi in Chwar Chira Square—the same location where the republic had been proclaimed in January 1946.
About Qazi Muhammad
Born in 1901 in Mahabad, Qazi Muhammad emerged as one of the most prominent figures in Kurdish history. He was known for his deep knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and fluency in several languages, including Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish, and Persian, along with familiarity with French, English, and Russian.
Despite coming from a well-off family, he remained closely connected to ordinary people, particularly the poor, advocating for their rights and addressing their social and legal concerns. He strongly supported education and cultural development as tools to resist oppression.
In the 1940s, he became a founding figure in the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran, which promoted freedom within Iran and autonomy for Kurdistan.
On January 22, 1946, he officially declared the establishment of the Republic of Kurdistan. Under his leadership, Kurdish became an official language, schools and cultural institutions were established, and efforts were made to build a modern political and social system.
However, the republic was short-lived. Following failed negotiations with Tehran, Iranian forces moved to suppress the movement, ultimately bringing an end to the republic and leading to Qazi Muhammad’s execution in 1947.
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