Idris Barzani

Idris Barzani was one of the ten sons of the legendary Kurdish leader Mustafa Barzani. He was born in 1943 and, from an early age, experienced the difficulties of being both a Kurd and a member of the Barzani family.

Following the fall of the Republic of Mahabad, he was deported with his family to southern Iraq. After his father's return from Soviet exile in 1958, Idris Barzani became increasingly active in family affairs and Kurdish political activities.

When the Kurdish revolution began in 1961, his military abilities and political talents were soon recognized by his father and other Kurdish leaders. He rose through the ranks of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and became an important figure in the 1970 autonomy negotiations with Baghdad. During one of his visits to Baghdad for peace talks, an attempt was made on his life, which he survived.

During the 1974–1975 conflict, Idris Barzani remained close to his father, visited the front lines and played an active role in administering the Kurdish liberated areas. At the end of the conflict, he was among the last Kurdish leaders to cross into Iran as a refugee.

When Mustafa Barzani travelled to the United States for cancer treatment, Idris accompanied him for a period and later continued to look after the interests of Kurdish refugees in Iran. He also played an important role in reorganizing the political and military wings of the KDP in 1976.

After the death of Mustafa Barzani, Idris Barzani and Masoud Barzani worked closely together to continue the Kurdish struggle. Idris spent many of his final years with Peshmerga forces in the mountains of Kurdistan.

In 1986–1987, he played a leading role in efforts to unify Kurdish political forces and was closely associated with the establishment of the Kurdistan Front, an umbrella organization bringing together several Kurdish groups.

On January 31, 1987, at the age of 44, Idris Barzani suffered a heart attack in Iranian Kurdistan and passed away. With his death, the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Kurdish people lost a leader who had devoted his life to serving his people.