While the Middle East and Iran are facing serious security and military crises, tensions and confrontations between Israel and the United States on one side and the Islamic Republic of Iran on the other have increased. In the middle of these developments, Rojhelat (Iranian Kurdistan) has also become one of the regions receiving growing attention from international media and political observers.
In this context, seven Kurdish political parties from Iranian Kurdistan that had been meeting for nearly a year within a joint dialogue and consultation framework finally announced, after months of discussions and internal negotiations, the formation of a new political alliance on February 22, 2026. The alliance was named “Alliance of the Iranian Kurdistan Political Parties”.
In this coalition, six political parties officially joined, while one other party, although not formally part of the alliance, is cooperating closely and coordinating its activities with it.
However, what attracted the most attention from the media and political observers was the presence of a woman in the leadership of one of the largest Kurdish political parties in Iran, the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK).
Among the leaders of these parties, the name Peyman Viyan stood out more than others. She is a young politician who has many years of experience in political organizations and women’s movements.
But the question is: Who is Peyman Viyan?
Peyman Viyan is a Kurdish-Iranian political activist and guerrilla fighter who is known as the co-chair of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK). She is considered one of the active figures in the Kurdish political movement in Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhelat) and in recent years has become a well-known personality within this movement.
Early Life and Nom de Guerre Peyman Viyan was born in 1989 in the city of Maku, in the province of Urmia, in Rojhelat.
Like many activists in Kurdish political and armed movements, she chose a nom de guerre. She selected the name “Viyan” to honor her friend and one of her close relatives, Viyan Peyman.
Her friend fought against ISIS in 2014 during the defense of the Kurdish city of Kobane and was killed in 2015. Choosing this name was a way for Peyman Viyan to pay tribute to her memory and struggle.
Political Activities In 2019, Peyman Viyan was a member of the coordination body of the East Kurdistan Women’s Movement (KJAR). This organization works on women’s rights, social activism, and political struggle in Iranian Kurdistan and is considered an important institution within the broader political movement connected to PJAK.
Leadership in PJAK Today, Peyman Viyan serves as the co-chair of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK).
PJAK is a Kurdish political–military organization active in Iranian Kurdistan. The group focuses on defending Kurdish rights and promoting political and social change in Iran.
Political Views Peyman Viyan supports the idea of Democratic Confederalism, a political concept proposed by Abdullah Öcalan. This idea emphasizes a democratic, decentralized, and multi-ethnic political structure. Instead of the traditional nation-state model, it proposes a new form of political organization based on local self-governance and grassroots participation.
In a 2025 interview, she explained her views by saying:
“The time has come for peoples to live together in a multi-colored, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious society. The system of Democratic Confederalism is the best solution as an alternative system.”
Views on the Situation in Iran
In another interview, Peyman Viyan spoke about the political situation in Iran and stated:
“Iran has two weak points: the Kurds and the women. These two groups have the potential to overthrow the regime.”
Today, at a time when political and security developments in the region are rapidly changing, the presence of a figure like Peyman Viyan in the leadership of one of the most important Kurdish political parties in Iranian Kurdistan has attracted significant attention.
According to some observers, the combination of her identity as both a woman and a Kurd could play an important role in the future of political developments and social movements in Iran, as she represents two major social forces in the country: women and Kurds.
