President Masoud Barzani has marked the 65th anniversary of the outbreak of the September Revolution, honoring the Peshmerga and other groups who took part in the Kurdish national and democratic struggle.

In a message issued on Friday, Barzani described the September Revolution as a broad-based movement that brought together Peshmerga fighters, politicians, political organizations, religious scholars, teachers, writers, intellectuals, youth, women and other segments of society.

Barzani said the revolution was rooted in the “will, dignity and self-confidence” of the people of Kurdistan and provided a strong and organized foundation for the continuation of their struggle against injustice and oppression.

He credited the revolution’s leadership, Peshmerga forces and the wider population with demonstrating what he called “unprecedented resilience and determination,” saying their efforts significantly advanced the Kurdish cause.

“Under the leadership of the Immortal Barzani, the September Revolution became a source of strength and inspired the subsequent stages of our people’s liberation struggle,” Barzani said, adding that it also inspired Kurdish freedom fighters in other parts of Kurdistan.

Barzani also paid tribute to those who participated in the revolution, particularly the fighters who were killed during the struggle and those who remain alive as witnesses to its history.

He described the fallen fighters as “immortal martyrs” who sacrificed their lives for their homeland and praised surviving veterans for their role in preserving the memory of the revolution.

“These heroes were a source of glory and dignity for their people, and they are worthy of the highest levels of pride and honor,” Barzani said.

The September Revolution began on September 11, 1961, under the leadership of Mustafa Barzani, marking a major chapter in the modern history of the Kurdish national movement in Iraq.