Aryan was only 14 years and 10 months old when he and his friends fell into the trap of the Democrat Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI). Promises of freedom and excitement led him into a world full of hardship, restriction, and danger.
The Alarming Phenomenon of Recruiting Youth
The phenomenon of recruiting adolescents and young adults by armed groups has recently turned into a serious security and social dilemma in the country’s border regions. The Democrat Party and other similar groups like PAK, PJAK, PKK, and KOMALA exploit tools such as social media networks to influence the minds of teenagers. They do this by presenting a romantic and thrilling image of life in the mountains and armed struggle.
These groups abuse concepts like freedom, justice, and life without restrictions, pushing young people to fantasize about a fabricated future. In reality, the promises of these movements are nothing but a mirage; their main goal is the instrumental exploitation of the energy and youthful excitement of the deceived individuals.
The Role of Family and Social Conditions in Recruitment
On the other hand, challenging family and psychological conditions provide a significant breeding ground for the recruitment of these adolescents. Excessive parental strictness, family disputes, economic poverty, and social limitations amplify feelings of frustration and deprivation in teenagers.
In such an environment, the deceitful messages of these militant groups can quickly become attractive to an individual, pushing them towards dangerous and hasty decisions. Cases like the story of Aryan Alizadeh demonstrate how pent-up feelings resulting from family restrictions and difficult living conditions are ultimately turned into a dangerous path by the groups’ targeted propaganda—a path that does not lead to freedom and a bright future, but rather to regret and profound harm.
Introducing Aryan Alizadeh
Aryan Alizadeh, born on March 28, 2006, from Marivan, completed education only up to the fifth grade of primary school and is currently working as a Kolbar (border porter) in Paveh.
Due to family issues (his parents not allowing him to go out with friends!), Aryan connected with the group via Instagram. After sharing the matter with his classmates, Bashir Hosseini and Danial Moradzadeh, all three decided to join. With the help of the Democrat Party’s agents, they illegally crossed the border on May 2, 2021.
At that time, Aryan was only 14 years and 10 months old, making him a clear example of a child soldier within the Democrat Party’s structure. Due to the unfavorable conditions within the group, as well as his parents’ persistent visits to the Democrat base, Aryan eventually returned to Iran on July 30, 2022.
Life Before Joining the Democrat Party
Question: Please tell us a little about your life before joining the Democrat Party.
Aryan: “I was born on March 28, 2006, and I’m from Marivan. I only continued my education until the fifth grade of primary school. After that, due to my family’s tough financial situation, I was forced to drop out and turn to Kolbari to help with the household expenses. Being a Kolbar was exhausting, but it had become somewhat normal for me and many other kids in the region. However, economic problems weren’t my only issue. My parents were very strict and usually wouldn’t let me go out with my friends, or even go on a short trip, like my peers. Maybe their intention was good, and they wanted to keep me away from danger, but for a teenager, that strictness felt like a prison. These simple prohibitions and constant pressures gradually created a complex in me that later led my destiny down the wrong path.”
First Encounter with the Democrat Party
Question: How did the Democrat Party first enter your life?
Aryan: “Like many teenagers, I spent a lot of time on Instagram. That’s where I encountered pages that promoted freedom, justice, and a better future. They posted pictures and videos of young people living in the mountains, holding guns, and smiling, as if their lives were full of glory and excitement. For me, who was tired of the strictness at home, these images seemed very appealing. When I shared the story with my friends, Bashir Hosseini and Danial Moradzadeh, they were equally drawn in. Gradually, the three of us started thinking that maybe by joining such a group, we could build a new life—a life full of freedom, liberation, and excitement.”
Decision to Leave the Country
Question: What led you to decide to leave the country?
Aryan: “Making the decision wasn’t easy, but being a teenager is an age when you think you understand everything. The Democrat Party, through its intermediaries inside Iran, arranged for us to cross the border illegally. Finally, on May 2, 2021, my two friends and I crossed the border without informing our families. I was exactly 14 years and 10 months old at the time. Now that I think about it, it was truly childish and dangerous. But back then, in our naive minds, we thought we were embarking on a great adventure and were going to become heroes.”
The Bitter Reality at the Base
Question: When you arrived at the group’s base, was the reality what you had imagined?
Aryan: “Not at all. From the very first day, I realized we had been deceived. Instead of freedom, we faced strict regulations and a violent environment. Food was scarce, the living quarters were dirty and full of insects, and basic amenities were non-existent. They forced us to attend hours of ideological classes, followed by grueling military training. Exhausting drills, carrying heavy weapons, and even endless, heavy labor at the base were all part of our daily routine. Instead of feeling free, I found myself in a prison with no way out.”
Question: Were there other teenagers present there?
Aryan: “Yes, and that broke my heart even more. Teenagers were there, some even younger than me. Their faces were still childish, but they were forced to carry weapons and act like adult soldiers. That’s when I understood that this group genuinely counts on teenagers and deceives them with false promises. Seeing those scenes was very difficult, and it made me feel even more that my future was being destroyed.”
Attempts to Escape and Return
Question: Under such circumstances, did you ever consider escaping or returning?
Aryan: “Many times. But the reality is that leaving was nearly impossible. If someone tried to escape or even talked about it, they were met with violence and threats. I told the commanders several times that I didn’t want to stay, but instead of listening, they scolded and threatened me. There were days when I only thought about my family and asked myself why I had left home so thoughtlessly, but practically, I couldn’t do anything.”
Question: What ultimately led to your release and return to Iran?
Aryan: “The only reason was my parents. They went to the Democrat Party’s base repeatedly, spoke with the leaders, and followed up everywhere. I later heard how many difficulties they endured just to get me back. Finally, after more than a year, on July 30, 2022, they allowed me to return to Iran. If my family hadn’t been so persistent and tried so hard, I would probably still be stuck there.”
Life After Returning
Question: What was your life like when you returned?
Aryan: “Returning wasn’t easy. I had lost over a year of the best time of my teenage life. My education was unfinished, and I no longer had the opportunity to continue. Now, to help my family, I’m working as a Kolbar again in Paveh. It’s very hard work, but at least I’m in my own country and living with my family. I still have nightmares about those days, but I’ve learned to value true freedom—the freedom that has meaning alongside family and under the shade of security, not in the trap of groups that exploit the emotions of adolescents.”
Aryan’s Message to Teenagers
Question: If you have a message for other teenagers, what would you say?
Aryan: “The only message I have is: Don’t be deceived. Behind all those slogans and beautiful photos on social media lies a bitter reality full of suffering. Nobody there cares about you. You are just a tool for their goals. If I could go back in time, I would never repeat that mistake. True freedom is being with your family, working for your future, and having a healthy life—not wasting your youth in the mountains and secret bases.”
