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Anti-Iran Kurdish Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Want to Establish Independent State

A woman walks on the street, between banners supporting the referendum for independence of Kurdistan in Erbil, Iraq September 24, 2017. (Reuters)
A woman walks on the street, between banners supporting the referendum for independence of Kurdistan in Erbil, Iraq September 24, 2017. (Reuters)
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Anti-Iran Kurdish Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Want to Establish Independent State

A woman walks on the street, between banners supporting the referendum for independence of Kurdistan in Erbil, Iraq September 24, 2017. (Reuters)
A woman walks on the street, between banners supporting the referendum for independence of Kurdistan in Erbil, Iraq September 24, 2017. (Reuters)

Vice President of the anti-Iran Kurdistan Freedom Party and commander of the military wing of the party, Hussein Yazdan Bina declared that the fate of any future Kurdish state will be decided by the people through ballot boxes.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that his party is seeking to follow in the footsteps of Qazi Muhammad, the Kurdish separatist leader who founded the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and headed the short-lived Republic of Mahabad 73 years ago.

The Kurdistan Freedom Party had, along with the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, waged four years of war against the ISIS terrorist group in Iraq in defense of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. The party is led by the Muhammad’s oldest son, Ali. It controls the Kurdistan capital Erbil and has tightened its grip over the city after the redeployment of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). The Kurdish authorities in the autonomous have rejected repeated pressure from Tehran to expel the Freedom Party from the region.

Yazdan Bina spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat from Kirkuk city, saying that “Iran has failed in its pressure.”

“The balance of power has changed, as have political equations in the region,” he explained. “It is no longer in a position to dictate demands or exert pressure on the Kurdistan region.”

“The Iranian regime has become exhausted in its search for an exit to its crisis,” he added.

“Iran is unlike any other country in the world. It is a Persian empire that has been built at the expense of other peoples, such as Kurds, Arabs, Balochs and other minorities.”

“The Persians have been hostile to these communities, which are now beginning to reject their rule and are waiting for the right moment to liberate themselves from them,” Yazdan Bina said.

Moreover, he declared that the “empire” has become a major threat to regional and international peace and security.

“Tehran is expanding its hegemony in the region,” he warned. “Should Washington continue its pressure on Tehran and should it bolster its cooperation with the oppressed people, then they can rise up in the near future and liberate themselves.”

“The international community will also be rid of a regime that is the world’s greatest sponsor of terrorism,” he stressed.

Addressing US sanctions against Iran, Yazdan Bina said that they are tailored to ensure Washington’s interests in the region.

“American and western interests coincide with those of the Kurdish people in regards to combating global terrorism, cementing democracy in the region and weakening the Tehran regime,” he went on to say.

He noted that the American administration's declaration that it does not seek regime change in Iran has not really helped Tehran maintain its stability. He instead predicted that the regime will collapse “soon.”

“The regime’s reckless disregard of the sovereignty of regional countries and its arrogance may lead to a wide-scale war in the area. This may ultimately lead the US or even Israel to resort to military force because Iran is a great threat to Israel,” Yazdan Bina warned.

Asked if the Freedom Party would take part in any American military strike against Iran, he replied that the regime left the Kurds with no choice but to take up arms to fight for their legitimate rights.

Iran is the Kurds and democracy’s greatest enemy, he declared.

The party will support any political, military or economic effort aimed at overthrowing the regime, he vowed.

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FAO Official: Gulf States Shielded Themselves from Major Shocks

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
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FAO Official: Gulf States Shielded Themselves from Major Shocks

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), told Asharq al-Awsat that global hunger increased sharply during the coronavirus pandemic, noting that the GCC countries were able to shield themselves from major shocks affecting food security.
Laborde added that global hunger affected over 152 million people, with no improvement in the past two years.
Today, 733 million people suffer from chronic hunger, and 2.3 billion face food insecurity, according to the UN annual report on “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.”

Laborde explained that the global economic crisis has worsened food insecurity, keeping hunger levels high.
Alongside this, climate shocks and conflicts are major causes of hunger. He also pointed out that food insecurity is closely tied to inequality, and the economic crisis, rising living costs, and high interest rates are deepening existing inequalities both within and between countries.
On whether economic diversification in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is boosting food security, Laborde said: “A move towards a more diversified economy and enhancing the ability to rely on various sources of food supplies are key drivers of food security resilience and stability.”
“GCC countries have managed to shield themselves from major shocks, primarily due to their high income levels and ability to cover import costs without difficulty,” he explained.
Regarding the FAO’s outlook on reducing global hunger, Laborde insisted that ending hunger will require a significant increase in funding.
When asked for suggestions on how governments could enhance food security, Laborde said: “Despite global figures remaining stable, improvements are seen in Asia and Latin America, showing that the right policies and conditions can reduce numbers.”
“Hunger is not inevitable. Investing in social safety nets to protect the poor, along with making structural changes to food systems to be more environmentally friendly, resilient, and equitable, is the right path forward,” emphasized Laborde.
The annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, published on Wednesday, said about 733 million people faced hunger in 2023 – one in 11 people globally and one in five in Africa.
Hunger and food insecurity present critical challenges affecting millions globally.
The annual report, released this year during the G20 Global Alliance for Hunger and Poverty Task Force ministerial meeting in Brazil, warns that the world is significantly lagging in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2—ending hunger by 2030.
It highlights that global progress has regressed by 15 years, with malnutrition levels comparable to those seen in 2008-2009.
Despite some progress in areas like stunting and exclusive breastfeeding, a troubling number of people still face food insecurity and malnutrition, with global hunger levels rising.