Circumstances and reasons
Following the Iranian people's uprising in 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. One of the most tragic and impactful events of early 1979 was the death of leader Mustafa Barzani on March 1, 1979, and the return of his body to the town of Shino in eastern Kurdistan on March 4 of the same year.
The regional transformations in general, and the death of leader Mustafa Barzani, which impacted the party's structure, necessitated holding a party conference. 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. Several decisions were issued from the meeting, most importantly the election of Masoud Barzani as interim president of the KDP until the convening of the ninth conference and the formation of a preparatory committee for the conference.
Conference held
Following its recommendation at the Shawana meeting, the preparatory committee for the conference began its preparations. In addition to this committee, several other preparatory committees were formed by the branches, comprised of their members. Preparations were completed within three months, and members were elected to the conference. The Ninth Congress of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) was held under the slogan "Kurdistan or Annihilation – A Progressive Coalition Democratic Government in Iraq and Genuine Autonomy for Kurdistan" from November 10 to 14, 1979. Three hundred and twenty-five delegates attended the congress, which was initially held in the village of Darband, before moving to the Zewa refugee camp west of Urmia in Eastern Kurdistan. The congress began with the reading of a report by President Masoud Barzani, followed by speeches from the Iraqi Communist Party and several other parties that attended the congress.
At the start of the conference, some members of the interim leadership of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), headed by Sami Abdul Rahman, withdrew after several of their demands were not met. Among these demands was that members of the interim leadership not be subject to a vote and that they be directly appointed to the Central Committee. However, this proposal was rejected by the conference, leading to the departure of some members of the interim leadership from the party, who later formed the Kurdistan Democratic People's Party.
The withdrawal of some members of the interim leadership did not disrupt the conference; rather, the delegates continued their work. During the conference, Masoud Barzani was unanimously elected President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. Following this, the conference members elected the party's new Central Committee, which consisted of:
1- Ali Abdullah
2- Idris Barzani
3- Nouri Shawis
4- Fadel Mirani
5- Falak al-Din Kakai
6- Rashid Arif
7- Muhammad Mulla Qadir
8- Khurshid Salim Shira
9- Dr. George Hassan
10- Dr. Rose Nouri Shawis
11- Abdullah Barwari
12- Lieutenant Ali
13- Lieutenant Younes Rouzbiani
14- Lieutenant Hajar Sindi
15- Hamid Barwari
16- Dr. Muhammad Saleh Juma
17- Azad Barwari
18- Najm al-Din Yusufi
19- Hoshyar Zebari
20- Dr. Muhammad Saeed Doski
21- Dr. Saeed Barzani
As for the reserve members of the Central Committee:
1- Francois Hariri
2- Hamid Effendi
3- Nader Horami
4- Azad Qardaghi
5- Dr. Kamal Kirkuki
The conference granted the Central Committee the authority to form an investigative committee to follow up on complaints, appoint the party secretary, and select members for the Political Bureau and the Central Committee to replace those who left the party.
After the conference ended, the first regular meeting of the Central Committee was held under the supervision of President Masoud Barzani in the Zewa camp, which lasted for three days. During this meeting, the Political Bureau of the party was formed, consisting of: Ali Abdullah - Secretary, Idris Barzani, Fadhil Mirani, Falak al-Din Kakai, Dr. Muhammad Saleh Juma, President Abdullah Barwari and Nouri Shawis, as members.
One of the conference's decisions was to expel former members of the Central Committee from the party, those who had left the party, with the exception of Saleh Yousefi, who returned to Iraq with the approval of leader Mustafa Barzani.
Sources
• Muhammad Mulla Qadir, The Record of Struggle, A Brief History of the Party and the Immortal Barzani, Third Edition, (Erbil - Aras Press, 2012).
• History of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Conference and Congress (Programme and Internal Regulations), Kurdistan Democratic Party Encyclopedia Authority, Volume One, (Erbil - Roxana Press - 2021).
• Salah al-Kharsan, Political Currents in Iraqi Kurdistan: A Reading of the Files of Kurdish Movements and Parties in Iraq 1946-2001 (Beirut - Al-Balagh Press - 2001).
• Habib Muhammad Karim, History of the Kurdistan Democratic Party - Iraq (at major stations) 1946-1993, (Dohuk - Khabat Press - 1998 AD).
• Mohsen Dziyi, Stations of My Life, Part Three and Last (Erbil - Mukriyani 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.
• The political, military and organizational report of the President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Comrade Masoud Barzani, to the Ninth Conference of our party, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, held during (November 4-11, 1979).
• Members of the Central Committee and the Political Bureau at the Ninth Conference 1979, Khabat Newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Issue 794, Erbil, Monday, August 12, 1996.
