Aland Jabar – Activists
Dictatorship is a political system that legitimizes itself through self-affirmation, centralization of power, and the suppression of free expression. In the Middle East, this system has dominated for over a century, embedding itself deeply into the political and social fabric of the region through force and authoritarian rule. For more than a hundred years, the peoples of the Middle East have been denied the breath of freedom and the air of emancipation.
The Dictator
A dictator is a political leader who possesses unilateral power and governs according to personal will. The term is especially used to characterize regimes rooted in repression and injustice. In its practical usage, the term refers to a leader who seizes illegitimate and unchecked authority and abuses it to entrench personal or party dominance.
Dictators are typically characterized by:
- Controlling and manipulating electoral processes
- Restricting civil liberties and freedoms
- Silencing political dissent and opposition
- Disregarding the rule of law and constitutional checks
- Governing through one-party rule or monopolistic political frameworks
- Censoring or eliminating freedom of the press
- Using armed forces to preserve their grip on power
Authoritarianism in the Kurdistan Region
In the Kurdistan Region, power is effectively divided between two ruling zones. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) exerts control over its designated geographical area, while the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) governs its own domain.
Masrour Barzani and Bafel Talabani, each within their respective territories, wield centralized, personalistic authority. For the past 34 years, the people of the region have been subjected to surveillance and political suppression. Those who offer criticism or challenge this authority often face harsh retaliation and forced silencing. In Kurdistan, nearly every city falls under a specific form of political-military control, subordinated to the structures of party and militia power.
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