The situation before holding the Congress:
In 2003, Iraq faced a major political change; after the coalition attack, the dictatorial system in Iraq collapsed and was replaced by a democratic federal authority for which the people of Iraq had struggled for decades. The Kurdistan Region, and especially the Kurdish people, played a major role in these changes in Iraq and it was their right to be the first beneficiaries of these changes; all their national rights had to be implemented in the new Iraqi constitution. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the political leadership of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the constitutional rights of the Kurdish people were implemented in the new Iraqi constitution, and the Kurdistan Region transitioned from a besieged region to a democratic federal region open to the world, and subsequently became a safe haven for all democrats, not only in Iraq but throughout the region.
The rapid changes after the liberation of Iraq encouraged all political and mass organizations to open a new space and move quickly with the changes, among them the Kurdistan Democratic Party and its mass organizations. The Kurdistan Students Union, immediately after the liberation of Iraq, that is, after the spring of 2003, quickly opened its headquarters in most Iraqi cities, especially in Baghdad and the areas of the border of Article 140, and prepared for the new congress. After the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Kurdistan Students Union, it was decided to hold the eleventh congress of the organization as soon as possible, and for this purpose, a preparatory committee was formed. After all preparations and the success of the congress members, it was decided that the congress would be held for the first time in the city of Duhok(1).
Holding the Congress:
The congress began between 30.07.2004 and 4.08.2004 in the hall of the College of Agriculture of the University of Duhok, with the presence of 386 representatives of all organizations, under the slogan (Science, Freedom, Progress)(2).
The congress began with the presence of Ali Shingali, representative of President Barzani, and Rebwar Yalda, Head of the Central Office of the professional organizations of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), and for the first time, representatives of Baghdad and Khanaqin participated in the congress(3).
On the first day of the congress, several committees were formed, and then the new cadres of the executive board were elected by voting, which consisted of the following:
1- Sarhang Zahir
2- Hoshmand Refat
3- Sidqi Mahmud
4- Zeravan Husein
5- Dilshad Shaban
6- Anas Ayub
7- Muaz Abdullah
8- Mushir Mihemed
9- Karzan Sadredin
10- Emad Ali
11- Rahel Hesen Sabri
12- Hemin Bajelan
13- Jafar
14- Tahir Mihemed Ahmed
15- Sarwa Salih Mistefa
16- Kawa Rasul Mihemed(4).
After the election of the members of the Executive Committee, and the preparation and approval of the committee reports, the elections for the secretary and members of the secretariat began on August 1st, and the new secretariat was elected as follows:
1- Berven Hamdi - Secretary
2- Lawand Osman - Member of the Secretariat Office
3- Kurdo Ihsan - Member of the Secretariat Office
4- Aryan Selahedin Asad – Member of the Secretariat Office
5- Renas Cano Mihemed known as Renas Bamerni – Member of the Secretariat Office
6- Navser Nuri - Member of the Secretariat Office
7- Fexredin Mehdi Jarjis – Member of the Secretariat Office
8- Sherwan Hito – Member of the Secretariat Office
9- Awat Karox – Member of the Secretariat Office
10- Hemin Rashid Zeydan, by the name of Hemin Bajelan, member of the Secretariat Office.
11- Merdan Xidir - Member of the Secretariat Office
12- Xemlan Mihemed Salih – Member of the Secretariat Office
13- Senger Kanebi Heme Salih, known as Senger Kanebi Gewre, member of the Secretariat Office.
14- Yasin Salih – Reserve member of the Secretariat Office(5).
The structure of the Kurdistan Students Union in this congress consisted of 16 branches, which were: Erbil, Salahaddin University, Soran University, Duhok University, Mosul, Akre branch, Zakho, Kirkuk University, Garmian, Sulaymaniyah, Sulaymaniyah University, Halabja, Raparin, Soran, Kirkuk, and the Baghdad branch(6).
Source:- Irfan Aziz Aziz, Congresses and Conferences of the Kurdistan Students Union, 1st Edition, (Erbil-Rojhelat Printing House-2012), p. 174.
- Final Statement of the 11th Congress of the Kurdistan Students Union (KSU), Ruwanin Newspaper, Kurdistan Students Union, issue 11, Erbil, October 11, 2004, p. 2.
- Musa Ahmed, 11th Congress of the Kurdistan Students Union is held today with the participation of 370 representatives, Khabat Newspaper, organ of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, issue 1517, Erbil, Monday, 02.08.2004, p. 3.
- Irfan Aziz Aziz, previous source, p. 176.
- Sirwan Osman, A bright history and an unbroken caravan, (Erbil- Ministry of Culture Printing House- 2014), p. 50.
Irfan Aziz Aziz, previous source, p. 176, 178.