Iranian Kurds Protest in Brussels on 30th Anniversary of Qassemlou’s Assassination
Thirty years have passed since the assassination of Abdolrahman Qassemlou, Secretary General of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran. On this occasion, more than 1,500 Kurds held demonstrations in Brussels. Protesters called on Austria and the European Union to pursue justice in the Qassemlou assassination case.
On Tuesday, July 9 (18th of Tir), more than 1,500 people gathered in Brussels to mark the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Abdolrahman Qassemlou, former Secretary General of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran.
Some members of the European Parliament, Kurdish artists from different parts of Kurdistan, and representatives of Iranian opposition were also present at the event.
Rahim Rashidi, a Kurdish journalist based in Washington who traveled to Brussels to cover the event, told Deutsche Welle Farsi: “The protest lasted approximately one and a half hours, stretching from the center of Brussels to the entrance of the European Parliament. Kurds dressed as Peshmerga marched in front of the European Parliament, chanting that they are victims of terrorism and have been fighting terrorism for nearly 40 years.”
Rahim Rashidi continued: “For the first time, some members of the Canadian Parliament, official members of the Canadian government, some representatives of the U.S. Congress, and even some American generals sent video messages.”
At the Kurdish demonstration in Brussels, Mustafa Hijri, First Secretary of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran, gave a speech. In part of his speech, while referring to Western relations with Iran, he said: “Iranians have been victims of the Islamic Republic’s policy of assassination. Iran does not respect international agreements and is the main supporter of terrorism in the region.”
Rahim Rashidi, the Kurdish journalist who was present at the demonstration site, told Deutsche Welle: “Due to the 30th anniversary of Qassemlou’s assassination, this year’s protest has been very extensive. The protesters called for reopening the Qassemlou assassination case, and part of their slogans were related to the pursuit of justice in the Qassemlou assassination case. They asked Austria and the European Union to assist in this regard.”
The Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran, in a statement issued on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Qassemlou’s assassination, wrote: “On July 13, 1989, Dr. Qassemlou was assassinated in Vienna, at an apparent negotiation table, along with Uncle Abdullah Qaderi Azer, a member of the party’s central committee and the party’s representative abroad, and Dr. ‘Fadel Rasoul’ from the brothers of Kurdistan of Iraq.”
After 30 years, leaders of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran stated that the Qassemlou assassination case remains open. After Qassemlou’s assassination in Austria, no trial was held. Various sources, including the Kurds themselves, have stated that “the assassins entered Austria under diplomatic cover and, with the cooperation of the Iranian embassy, left Austrian soil after the assassination.”
Hashemi Rafsanjani has repeatedly mentioned the Qassemlou assassination incident in his memoirs. In his memoirs of July 30, 1989, Rafsanjani writes: “Mr. [Mahmoud] Vaezi [Deputy Foreign Minister] called from Tehran to report that Austria’s Foreign Minister said Iran is likely seen as involved in Qassemlou’s murder. I said consult on the response. He said the Austrians handled it well. They acquitted the Iranian official and sent him back to Iran.”
Austrian media at that time reported that Vienna’s public court was unwilling to issue an arrest warrant for Iranian officials due to insufficient evidence.
Hassan Sharafi, successor to the First Secretary of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran, had previously told Deutsche Welle in an interview about Qassemlou’s assassination: “The German judicial system maintained its independence and condemned top-level leaders of the Islamic Republic for involvement in the Mykonos assassination, but Austria did not do so. Therefore, Dr. Qassemlou’s case remains open.”
The Islamic Republic of Iran has not formally accepted responsibility for Qassemlou’s assassination.
Rahim Rashidi told Deutsche Welle that Iranian Kurds recognize Qassemlou as a national figure and see him as more than just the leader of a political party. Rashidi also said that it is expected that on July 22 of this year, on the anniversary of Qassemlou’s assassination, the people of Iranian Kurdish areas will, as in previous years, launch a general strike.
