Post-1979 Iranian Revolution’s Reign of Terror and State Violence: Kurdistan as a Centerpiece
Keywords:
Iran, Kurdistan, state violence, recasting nation-state, ethnic conflict, revolutionAbstract
Following the violent transition in power from an authoritarian monarchy to a theocratic despotism, the 1979 Iranian Revolution did not fulfil any of its promises of freedom and equality. Since the inception of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) in 1979, state-sanctioned violence has consistently targeted all of Iran’s numerous national and religious communities, including the Kurdish people, resulting in a decade of massive violence and terrorisation of civilians. Showcasing this decade’s reign of terror in Kurdistan, this article argues that the Islamic regime’s extensive use of violence and collective punishment was not an accidental occurrence of post-revolutionary chaos. But it was a deliberate choice of measure in line with its worldview and ambitions of redefining and reforging the nation-state identity and ideology in Iran. The process is referred to as ‘the incomplete task of nation-state building’ and took place during the decade following the revolution. In this regard, the regime imposed multifaceted measures and strategies on the Kurdish people, including conducting a civil war and imposing economic sanctions. This article will elaborate on the 1980s state-Kurdish conflict in Iran and the way the Kurdish movement challenged the then-newly established regime from various angles, particularly its numerous redlines.
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