Republic of Mahabad proclaimed

Culture of origin: Kurdish · Historical

Holiday sources: Iran · Kurdish

With Soviet forces occupying northern Iran, Qazi Muhammad proclaimed the Republic of Mahabad on 22 January 1946 and raised its flag; "Ey Reqîb" became its anthem. Its manifesto sought Kurdish autonomy within Iran, with Kurdish as the language of schools and government. Iranian forces took Mahabad on 15 December 1946, closed the Kurdish press, banned the teaching of Kurdish and burned Kurdish books; Qazi Muhammad was hanged in Mahabad on 31 March 1947.