TII team

The Barzani family are among the most influential in Iraqi Kurdistan that could remarkably promote themselves as the leadership of the Iraqi Kurdistan since Mullah Mustafa Barzani, among other Kurdish tribes, through the ups and downs of intra-tribal conflicts and inner-family conquests.

As the time passed and Mullah Mustafa aged, the rivalry between his two sons (Idris and Massoud) who have political appearances took radical aspects. But the wisdom and creative mindset of Idris every day posed him in the eyes of the experts and presidential council more than Massoud, including Mullah Mustafa himself for the leadership of the party in the future. Idris Barzani was highly legitimate among the party’s leadership council, so it closed the doors for other rivals especially his brother Massoud to express themselves. Eventually, Idris Barzani become the leader of Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in March 1, 1979 after the death of his father. And after him, Massoud Barzani took his place.
Idris Mustafa Barzani with younger brother
Idris Mustafa Barzani (L) with his younger brother Massoud,1980s. Photo: KDP

Although both brothers considered themselves as father’s successor, but one must have overcame the other. After the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the leader of the KDP Idris Barzani showed his desire to support the revolution and mobilize the Iraqi Kurds in favor of Iran. Massoud’s secret relationship with Israel also create a very difficult atmosphere for Idris. The experienced and, of course, the young leader of KDP, that is Idris, was full of doubts on the consequences of his brother’s competitiveness. He was obligated as the party’s leader to consolidate the unity of the family and the tribes as his father’s legacy.

In the meanwhile, he had to watch out for Israeli teams and its agents within the tribe and family to save his political life, and his and his family’s life. But they weren’t efficient. Idris Barzani was mysteriously killed in Silvana, Urmia on Saturday January 31, 1987. Party’s publications proclaimed his death as a result of a stroke. But many of the party’s experts at the same time described Idris was poisoned with some kind of toxin.

With the assassination and the absence of the young leader of the KDP, a lot of people envied his talent and his cleverness. The death of Idris was remained an open case for a long time by his advocates. But over time, witnesses and followers of the case, whether inside the tribe or out, were taken out of the way, somehow.
Idris Mustafa Barzani, 1980s. Photo: KDP

Now, after 35 years since the death of Idris and Massoud’s succession, the struggle for power in Barzani’s family has been extended to their sons. Despite the fact that the media are trying to show the braveries and censor the changes within the tribe, the truth is Massoud Barzani is facing a great problem, the rivalry of Masrour (Massoud’s son) and Nechirvan (Idris’s son) Barzani. Masrour is keen to restrict and control Nechirvan with the help of security agency. Nechirvan, on the other hand, is trying to reduce his uncle and his cousin’s dominance and is seeking an opportunity to take revenge for his father’s murder.

There are a lot of significant financial, political and security disputes within the tribes. Nechirvan was threatened by one of his relatives for a moral reminder in 2016 in Washington. The explicit and sometimes hidden duel still continues.
Will Nechirvan Barzani suffer the same fate as his father Idris
Massoud Barzani (R) with his nephew Nechirvan Barzani (C) and son Masrour Barzani, 2017. Photo: Sirwan Barzani’s FB

In the shadow of these activities, Idris Barzani managed domestic level, and could unite Iraqi Kurds not only in the form of the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party but also in the form of Kurdish Front. So once again, the struggle with the Ba’ath regime will be organized. However, the Kurdish Front project was launched several months after the death of Idris Barzani in 1987, but the front was the result of Idris Barzani’s thoughts.

Today, Massoud Barzani, who led Kurdistan region as president from 2005 to 2017, remains the most powerful leader in the shadow according to analysts. Massoud’s son Masrour is Iraqi Kurdistan region’s prime minister and his nephew Nechirvan Barzani is Iraqi Kurdistan President.

But this question remains, and no one is allowed to ask it? Who killed the late Idris, the young leader of the Democratic Party? Why is the assassination still a locked safe after nearly forty years? Who has the key? Are all the witnesses forced to shut their mouth and the key is buried with them? Is it possible that Nechirvan, Idris’ son, would have the same fate as his father?[1]