Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani issued a statement on the 59th anniversary of the victorious September Revolution that started in 1961 and led to the March 11th, 1970, Autonomy Agreement between the then Iraqi government and the Kurdistani leadership.

Below is the statement:

“Today, we commemorate the 59th anniversary of the great September Revolution, which started in extremely difficult times, under the leadership of the late Mustafa Barzani with the support of the heroic revolutionaries and defenders of our courageous people to protect the rights of the people of Kurdistan.

The September Revolution demonstrated the rejection of cruelty, repression, and the bitter reality that had been imposed on our people by the then Iraqi regime. It was for this reason that all the people of Kurdistan, from all ethnicities, faiths, and social strata, supported the Revolution. They unified their strengths and continued their stride until their objectives were obtained, which culminated in the historic March 11th, 1970, Agreement. This agreement, which ensured the legitimate rights of the people of Kurdistan, became the bedrock of the future achievements of our people.

A great lesson that ought to be learned from this historic revolution is that the only path towards achieving our lawful objectives and aspirations is when all of us come together through unity and consensus to demonstrate resilience and defy hardships.

As we mark this great revolution, which has always served as an inspiration for freedom, patriotism, and resistance; we salute the memories of the fallen heroes of the revolution and all the Peshmerga heroes who were pioneers of their time in defying hardships and despair, sowed the seeds of hope for our people and who made the ultimate sacrifice to achieve the noble goals of the people of Kurdistan.” (ILKHA)