General strike paralyzes Iranian Kurdistan

"SMCCDI 8 August: A general strike has started to paralyze, since this morning, the northwestern Iran. Cities, such as, Marivan, Oshnaviah, Bookan, Sardashat, Javan-Rood, Mahabad, Baneh, Saghez, Piranshahr, and Sannandaj are affected by the popular action.

Many governmental employees, local businessmen and farmers have refused to show up at their usual work. Threats made were not enough to dissuade a population exasperated by over two decades of dictatorship."
The Kurdistani

And from Iraq

"Kurds take hard-line stance on Iraq Constitution

(RFE/RL) By Kathleen Ridolfo 8 August: Kurdish leaders in Iraq have threatened to call on the Kurdish electorate to vote down the constitution in October if all Kurdish demands are not met.

Kurdish leaders in Iraq have called for all of their demands to be met in the draft constitution, threatening that otherwise they will encourage voters in the three Kurdish provinces to vote down the document in October."
The Kurdistani

I think if it were not for the Kurds we would be staring down the barrel of the Iranian style theocracy.