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 partys leadership council, so it closed the doors for other rivals especially his brother Masoud 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, Masoud Barzani took his place.
Although both brothers considered themselves as fathers successor, but one must have overcame the other. After the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the leaderof theKDP Idris Barzani showed his desire to support the revolution and mobilize the Iraqi Kurds in favor of Iran. Masouds 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 brothers competitiveness. He was obligated as the partys leader to consolidate the unity of the family and the tribes as his fathers legacy.
In the meanwhile, he had to watch out for Israeli terrorist teams and its agents within the tribe and family to save his political life, and his and his familys life. But they werent efficient. Idris Barzani was mysteriously killed in Silvana, Urmia on Saturday January 31, 1987. Partys publications proclaimed his death as a result of a stroke. But many of the partys 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.
Now, after more than 30 years since the death of Idris and Masouds succession, the struggle for power in Barzanis 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 Masrur(Masouds son) and Nechirvan (Idriss son) Barzani. Masruris 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 cousins dominance and is seeking an opportunity to take revenge for his fathers murder.
There are a lot of significant financial, political and security disputes within the tribes. In 2009, Massoud Barzani was assassinated by his family member with a firearm. The partys media called it an accusation and disproved it. Nechirvan was threatened by one of his relatives for a moral reminder last year in Washington. The explicit and sometimes hidden duel still continues.
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 Baath 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 Barzanis thoughts.
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 mouthand the key is buried with them? Is it possible that Nechirvan, Idris son, would have the same fate as his father?
May he rest in peace!
