Republic of Mahabad

On January 22, 1946, more than 20,000 people gathered in Charchra Square in Mahabad as a Kurdish flag was raised and the Republic of Kurdistan was proclaimed -- the first and only modern Kurdish state. President Qazi Muhammad, a respected religious jurist, led the republic with Soviet backing, establishing Kurdish-language schools, a printing press, and a national army. The legendary Mustafa Barzani, who had marched his fighters from Iraq, served as Defense Minister. The republic published a Kurdish newspaper, established courts, and promoted women's participation in public life. But it lasted only 11 months. When Soviet forces withdrew under Western pressure, Iran moved to crush the fledgling state. On December 15, 1946, Iranian forces entered Mahabad, closing the printing press, banning Kurdish language instruction, and burning Kurdish books. On March 31, 1947, Qazi Muhammad was hanged in the very square where independence had been proclaimed.