The Kurdish uprising (Raperin in Kurdish) began on March 5, 1991, in the aftermath of the Gulf War when Kurdish leaders called on the Kurdish population in northern Iraq to revolt against Saddam Hussein’s regime. 

The city of Ranya was the starting point of a revolution that would change the face of Kurdistan forever, marking a key moment in the Kurdish people’s long struggle for autonomy and self-determination. 

The uprising was sparked by years of persecution and repression by Hussein's regime and the regimes that preceded him and was fueled by a sense of frustration and anger at the lack of progress in addressing the Kurdish people's demands for greater autonomy and recognition in Iraq. 

History of suppression

The Kurdish people have had a long history of persecution and discrimination since the creation of Iraq in the 1920s. In fact, the history of persecution towards the Kurds dates back centuries, with Kurdish people having been subjected to various forms of discrimination and violence, including forced assimilation, cultural suppression, displacement, and genocide. Many Kurds have been denied basic human rights, including the right to speak their own language, practice their own religion, and participate in the political process. 

Under Saddam Hussein's regime, Kurds faced particularly brutal treatment. In the late 1980s, Saddam Hussein's regime carried out a campaign of genocide against the Kurdish people, killing over 182,000 innocent men, women and children. In 1988, the regime used chemical weapons in various places, including in the city of Halabja (commemorated every year on March 16), killing 8,000 people. 

The events of 1991

The March 5th uprising began with small skirmishes between Kurdish forces and Iraqi troops in and around Ranya before quickly spreading throughout Kurdistan, as more towns joined in solidarity with those fighting for freedom. 

It quickly spread, with Kurdish fighters seizing control of many cities and towns, which witnessed scenes of celebration, as citizens who had long suffered under successive Iraqi regimes finally regained control over their lives. By March 21, every corner of Kurdistan was free, thanks largely due to the brave men and women who risked everything so that future generations could live without fear or persecution. 

However, the uprising was short-lived and was met with a fierce response from the Iraqi government, which launched a brutal crackdown on the Kurdish population. The regime used a combination of military force, including helicopter gunships, tanks, and heavy artillery, as well as chemical weapons, to crush the uprising. 

Thousands of Kurdish civilians were killed in the fighting, and over a million people were displaced from their homes and forced to flee to the mountains and to neighboring countries to avoid Hussein’s wrath. 

The international community was slow to respond to the crisis, with many countries citing concerns about destabilizing the region and upsetting the balance of power in the Middle East. In response to the humanitarian crisis that resulted from the fighting, the United States and its allies established a no-fly zone over northern Iraq, which provided some protection for the Kurdish population. The no-fly zone remained in place until the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which led to the overthrow of Hussein’s regime.

Never to be forgotten

The March 5th uprising is now remembered annually among Kurds around the world as Liberation Day – a reminder not only that freedom can never be taken away without consequence but also that no matter how daunting an enemy may seem, there will always be those willing to fight against injustice wherever it arises. 

It is through remembering this history – and continuing its legacy – that we ensure our collective safety going forward into whatever challenges await us in the future. 

Today, the Kurdish people continue to face many challenges and obstacles in their quest for autonomy and self-determination. Nevertheless, they remain committed to their cause, and their struggle continues to inspire people around the world who believe in the fundamental right of all people to live in peace, freedom, and dignity. 

The Kurdish people have continued to fight for greater autonomy and recognition of their rights in Iraq and in other countries where they live. 

The Kurdistan Regional Government was established in Iraq in 1992 and has since played a key role in the political and economic development of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Dr. Nahro Zagros is the Editor-in-Chief of Kurdistan Chronicle and a senior fellow at Gold Institute for International Strategy in Washington D.C.