Reasons for and convening of the meeting

Following the Iranian people's uprising of February 11, 1979, the monarchy in Iran collapsed and was replaced by the Islamic Republic. The leadership of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) was able to establish good relations with the new Iranian authorities. Given that a large number of refugees from southern Kurdistan had been residing in Iran since 1974, one of the most tragic and impactful events of early 1979 was the death of leader Mustafa Barzani. Barzani passed away on March 1, 1979, in the United States, after four years in exile. His body was returned to Iran on April 4 of the same year and buried in the town of Shino in eastern Kurdistan.

The regional transformations in general, and the death of leader Mustafa Barzani, which impacted the party's structure, necessitated an urgent and expanded meeting. In this regard, the interim leadership of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) convened a large meeting in early July 1979 in the village of Shawane, north of the town of Shino in eastern Kurdistan. The meeting resulted in several decisions, most importantly the election of Masoud Barzani as interim president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party until the Ninth Congress was held, the election of Sami Abdul Rahman as Secretary-General of the party, and efforts to normalize relations with the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran, while maintaining relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran against the Iraqi regime, provided that the KDP does not interfere in the internal affairs of Iranian Kurdistan. During the meeting, Masoud Barzani called for expediting the convening of the Ninth Congress during the summer or autumn of 1979, but Sami Abdul Rahman and another group believed that the congress should be postponed until the spring of 1980, so that the new party platform could be fully disseminated and established among the refugees and party organizations in Iran. Finally, it was decided to hold the congress on the date proposed by President Masoud Barzani.

The meeting resulted in the formation of a preparatory committee for the ninth party conference, which included:

1- Ali Abdullah

2- Idris Barzani

3- Muhammad Mulla Qadir

4- Rashid Sindi

5- Aref Tayfour

6- Karim Sinjari

7- Raya Saati

Sources

* Mohsen Dzayi, My Life's Milestones, Part Three and Last, (Erbil - Mokriani Press - 2015).

* Roznama Kayhan, Shamarah 10751, Tehran, Termah 16, 1358 AH - July 7, 1979 AD.

* Roznama Bamdad, Shamara 53, Tehran, Termah 17, 1358. - July 8, 1979 AD.

* Sami Abdul Rahman, The Kurdistan Democratic People’s Party: The Revolutionary Alternative in the Kurdish Liberation Movement, Political Report of the Founding Conference of the Kurdistan Democratic People’s Party, July 26-30, 1981 (no place - no year).

* Muhammad Mulla Qadir, The Record of Struggle, A Brief History of the Party and the Immortal Barzani, Third Edition, (Erbil - Aras Press - 2012).