Republic of Mahabad

The Republic of Mahabad was a short-lived Kurdish state proclaimed on 22 January 1946 in the city of Mahabad in northwestern Iran, under the presidency of Qazi Muhammad. Established with Soviet backing during the broader Azerbaijan crisis, the republic had its own flag, army, and government institutions and promoted Kurdish language and culture. When the Soviet Union withdrew its forces in May 1946, the republic lost its guarantor. Iranian government forces reoccupied Mahabad in December 1946 without significant resistance. Qazi Muhammad and key leaders were subsequently arrested and executed in March 1947. The Republic of Mahabad remains a foundational symbol in Kurdish nationalist memory and a key reference point for the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan.