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The Islamic Movement of Kurdistan (IMK), which is based in Iraqi Kurdistan, has announced its intention to open an office in Damascus, becoming the first Kurdish and Iraqi political party to establish a presence in post-Assad Syria.Ìý

The decision comes as opposition factions gained control of Damascus on 8 December, effectively ending 61 years of Ba'ath Party rule and 53 years of the Assad family's dominance.

Abdullah Warte, the IMK's official spokesperson, confirmed the announcement in an exclusive interview with °®Âþµº. "As the Kurdish and Iraqi opposition parties, we had an office in Damascus before 2003. After the recent changes in Syria, where the revolutionaries overthrew the Syrian regime, we have decided to open our office in Damascus in the future," Warte stated.

The IMK, founded in 1987 by Sheik Othman Abdul Aziz with Iranian support during the Iran-Iraq War, transitioned from a militant group to a political organisation following the 1991 Kurdish uprising and the establishment of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.Ìý
Over the decades, the group has played a complex role in Kurdish politics, participating in intra-Kurdish conflicts and experiencing splits that led to the creation of groups like Ansar al-Islam, as a "terrorist organisation" by both the United States and the United Nations.

Regional and diplomatic implications

IMK leader Irfan Ali Abdul Aziz first announced plans for the Damascus office during a 28 December ceremony in Sulaymaniyah commemorating IMK martyrs who were killed by the Iraqi regime and during intra-Kurdish conflicts. The move aligns with recent diplomatic developments, including a visit by Iraq's intelligence chief to meet Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Warte emphasised the IMK’s careful coordination with Kurdish and Iraqi authorities. "We are making our preparations to open our office in Damascus, and we will consult with the authorities in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Iraqi federal government for any step forward," he said. "We will not take any step contrary to the Iraqi constitution and binding laws."

Warte stressed the geographical and historical importance of maintaining relations with Syria. "While all Iraqi and Kurdish political parties have representation and offices in Turkey and Iran, Syria is a neighbour of Iraq and the Kurdistan region," he noted.

"It is a natural right, and so far there is no decision in the KRG and Iraq to prevent political parties from opening their offices in Damascus."

The IMK expressed optimism about Syria's governance under Ahmed al-Sharaa and his interim leadership. "Soon after the success of the Syrian revolution, the IMK leader sent a congratulatory letter to al-Sharaa and asked him to establish a civilian government, be tolerant of all Syrian components, coordinate with Syrian Kurds, and admit to their rights," Warte revealed.

"The current Syrian regime is not clear on how it would emerge, but from our perspective, al-Sharaa is leading the Syrian revolution and working wisely for state-building, writing a constitution, and understanding Syria's nations, ethnic, and religious components," Warte added. "Hence, from our reading of his view on the future of Syria, we hope it becomes a civilian and peaceful state with a constitution that preserves the rights of all nations, religions, and ethnicities."

Kurdish rights in Syria and IMK's evolution

The IMK emphasised the significance of Kurdish contributions to Syria’s past and future, urging their recognition in the evolving political framework. "Kurds are a key partner in Syria and had a good role in the past," Warte stated. "It is very important that the rights of Kurds should be preserved in Syria's future constitution and that Kurds enjoy their rights in a peaceful and civilian Syrian state."

He also noted international support for the Syrian revolution, describing it as a positive signal for the establishment of a peaceful governance system.

"The warm embrace by the international, Arabic, and Islamic countries for the success of the Syrian revolution is a good indication that all Syrian components can establish a new ruling system in which all live peacefully," he added.

The IMK's political journey has been marked by both challenges and shifts. In 1992, it received minimal electoral support, securing only 5.1 percent of votes. The group engaged in armed conflict with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) from 1993 to 1997. During the PUK-KDP civil conflict in the mid-1990s, the IMK consolidated power in the Halabja-Howraman region.

In 1997, the IMK entered Kurdish politics, but this decision alienated its radical members, leading to the formation of splinter groups such as Kurdish Hamas and Ansar al-Islam.Ìý

Under US pressure post-2003, the IMK disarmed and transitioned fully into a political party. Despite its presence in the Kurdistan Regional Government, its influence waned over the years, with declining electoral representation.

The IMK has been vocal about its stance on international conflicts. It expressed support for the Hamas-led 7 October attack on Israeli military bases and civilian settlements within and around the Gaza envelope, and also condemned Israel's massacre of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Lebanon.

Tahsin Ali, the son of former IMK leader Ali Abdul Aziz and brother of the current leader, was killed on 1 August 2011, in a US drone strike in South Waziristan, Pakistan.

Ansar Al-Islam was established in 2001 after IMK splintered. It initially formed as Jund Al-Islam before renaming itself Ansar Al-Islam in December 2001 under the leadership of Mullah Krekar. The group began with Arab al-Qa'ida fighters fleeing Afghanistan and later expanded by recruiting members from Kurdish Islamist factions.

Operating in the Hawraman mountainous regions of Iraqi Kurdistan, Ansar Al-Islam enforced strict sharia law in its territories. It aimed to create an Islamic Iraq governed by sharia.

In 2003, US and PUK forces attacked an Ansar Al-Islam enclave, killing many members and dispersing the survivors. The group rebranded as Ansar Al-Sunna later that year but returned to its original name in 2007. Its leader, Abu Abdulla al-Shafi'i, was captured in 2010. Mullah Krekar, the group's founder, is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in Italy.

The IMK's approach underscores its ongoing commitment to Kurdish rights and its adaptability to the shifting regional dynamics.