On October 20, the people of the Kurdistan Region have a rare and golden opportunity to send a powerful message to the ruling parties—the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). It’s time to stand up and tell them, “Enough!”

 

For decades, the people of Kurdistan have been subjected to the rule of these two dominant parties. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, Iraqi Kurdistan had the potential to become a shining example of democracy, freedom, and coexistence. The vision was for a land where Kurds and other ethnic groups could live in peace, enjoying both freedom and dignity. But after 33 years of PUK and KDP control, that dream has been suffocated.

 

There has been no shortage of discussions, debates, and protests around the injustices and failures of the ruling parties. But what I want to say, as a young Kurd now living abroad, is a simple plea to the people of my homeland: Stand up and tell this corrupt and oppressive regime that it has gone too far, that it must end.

 

The False Facade of Democracy

 

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) present themselves as champions of democracy and national unity, but in reality, they have become the very opposite. They are no longer democratic, nor truly representative of the Kurdish nation. They have transformed into family-run fiefdoms, where power is passed down from one generation to another, and where the interests of the people are secondary to the interests of the few.

 

The KDP and PUK have repeatedly undermined the democratic process, manipulating elections and the political system to maintain their grip on power. What was once a movement of liberation has become a regime of oppression. These parties have been so focused on preserving their family dynasties that they have lost sight of the ideals they once stood for—justice, equality, and true representation for the people of Kurdistan.

 

The Voice of the Kurdish Diaspora

 

As Kurds living abroad, we do not have the right to vote in this critical election. It is deeply frustrating that, while we are deeply connected to our homeland and care about its future, we are unable to directly participate in shaping it. Many of us left Kurdistan because of the oppressive rule of these two parties. We fled not for a better life elsewhere, but because we were left with no choice—no opportunity, no voice, no future under their regime.

 

Even though we cannot vote, we are appealing to our friends, families, and fellow citizens back home: Do not boycott the elections like before. Go to the polls and make your voices heard. This is the time to take a stand, to say to the authorities, “Enough!”—enough of the corruption, the nepotism, the injustice, and the authoritarian control.

 

A Call to the Youth of Kurdistan

 

As a young man from Erbil, I understand the frustration and hopelessness many feel. I know the burden of living under a regime that does not listen to its people, that only tightens its grip on power while leaving the youth with little opportunity for change. I had to leave my home because of this system—because I could no longer tolerate the oppression, the lack of justice, and the stifling of hope for a better future.

 

But my message to the youth who are still in Kurdistan is this: You hold the key to change. The future of Kurdistan depends on your willingness to stand up and make your voices count. You are not powerless. Every vote matters. You have the chance to make history by telling the PUK and KDP that their time is over.

 

This isn’t just about politics; it is about dignity, freedom, and the future of our homeland. We cannot afford to let another generation be crushed under the weight of the same old politics. It’s time for change.

 

 I call on the youth of Kurdistan—and especially those in Erbil—to stand united. Let this election be the moment when you demand justice for the years of oppression, for the countless lost opportunities, and for the future you deserve. Let this be the moment when you say, with one loud voice: Enough!