Who are the Kurds?

• Ethnicity: Indo-Iranian (a branch of the Indo-European peoples).
• Language: Kurdish, which has several dialects, including Kurmanji, Sorani, and Pehlewani. Many Kurds are also bilingual or multilingual in the dominant languages of the countries where they live (e.g., Turkish, Arabic, Persian).
• Religion: Most Kurds are Sunni Muslims, though there are also Shi'a, Yazidis, Christians, and followers of other beliefs among them.

• The Kurds have a long history dating back to ancient times, with ties to the Medes and other ancient peoples.
• After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the 1920 Treaty of Sèvres included a provision for a possible Kurdish state, but it was never implemented. The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, which established modern Turkey, made no mention of Kurdish autonomy.

• Iraqi Kurdistan has achieved the highest level of autonomy, with its own parliament, military (the Peshmerga), and official status within Iraq.
• In Turkey, the Kurdish population has faced cultural suppression and conflict, particularly with the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), a group that has fought for Kurdish rights and autonomy but is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and several Western countries.
• In Syria, Kurdish forces (such as the YPG) have established a semi-autonomous region called Rojava in the north.
• In Iran, Kurdish activism exists but is heavily suppressed by the government.

🗺️ Historical Overview

Ancient and Medieval History

• The Kurds trace their ancestry to ancient Iranian peoples such as the Medes, who lived in what is now western Iran.
• The term Kurd appears in historical records dating back over a thousand years, including Arabic and Persian sources.
• In the medieval period, Kurds established several principalities and emirates (e.g., Emirate of Hakkari, Emirate of Soran, Baban), often semi-independent under larger empires like the Ottomans and Safavids.

Modern History

• After World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Western powers discussed the idea of a Kurdish state in the Treaty of Sèvres (1920). However, this treaty was never fully implemented.
• The Treaty of Lausanne (1923), which defined the borders of modern Turkey, made no provision for a Kurdish homeland. As a result, Kurds were divided among modern Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.

⚖️ Political Movements and Struggles

Turkey

• Kurds make up roughly 20% of Turkey’s population.
• Successive Turkish governments suppressed Kurdish language and culture for decades (e.g., banning the Kurdish language in public).
• The PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), founded in 1978 by Abdullah Öcalan, began an armed insurgency in 1984. The conflict has caused tens of thousands of deaths and widespread displacement.
• Today, peaceful political movements like the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) advocate for Kurdish rights, though they face state crackdowns.

Iraq

• Kurds in Iraq suffered under Saddam Hussein’s regime, most infamously during the Anfal campaign (1986–1989), which included the Halabja chemical attack that killed thousands of civilians.
• Since 1991, after the Gulf War and Western protection (no-fly zones), Iraqi Kurdistan has gained significant autonomy.
• In 2005, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) was officially recognized in the Iraqi constitution.
• In 2017, the KRG held an independence referendum where over 90% voted for secession, but it was not internationally recognized and faced backlash from Baghdad.

Syria

• Syrian Kurds were long denied citizenship and basic rights.
• During the Syrian Civil War, Kurdish groups like the YPG (People’s Protection Units) and later the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) took control of large parts of northern Syria (Rojava).
• They implemented a form of democratic confederalism, promoting gender equality, secularism, and ethnic inclusivity.
• The YPG was instrumental in defeating ISIS with support from the U.S., but Turkey opposes them, seeing them as linked to the PKK.

Iran

• Iranian Kurds face discrimination and are often marginalized.
• Periodic uprisings have occurred, such as the Republic of Mahabad (a short-lived Kurdish state in 1946), which was quickly crushed by Iran.
• Kurdish parties in Iran, like the KDP-I and PJAK, have engaged in political activism and armed resistance, often facing severe crackdowns.

🎭 Kurdish Culture and Society

Language and Literature

• Kurdish belongs to the Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family.

• Main dialects:

  • Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish) – spoken in Turkey, Syria, and parts of Iraq and Iran.

  • Sorani (Central Kurdish) – spoken in Iraq and Iran.

  • Pehlewani (Southern Kurdish) – mostly in Iran and southeastern Iraq.

• Kurdish literature includes epic poems, folktales, and modern poetry (e.g., the poet Ahmad Khani is well-known for his work Mem û Zîn).

Music and Dance

• Music is a vital part of Kurdish life, featuring instruments like the saz, duduk, and daf.

• Traditional dances (e.g., govend or halparke) are often performed in a circle at weddings and festivals.

Newroz (Nowruz)

• The Kurdish New Year, celebrated around March 21st, symbolizes resistance and the arrival of spring.
• It’s both a cultural and political event for Kurds, often used to assert Kurdish identity.

🌍 Contemporary Issues and the Future

1. Statelessness

• Despite centuries of history and a distinct identity, Kurds still lack a sovereign state.
• Autonomy in Iraq and self-administration in Syria are steps forward but fall short of full independence.

2. Discrimination and Human Rights

• In many countries, Kurdish identity is suppressed or criminalized.
• Kurdish politicians, journalists, and activists are regularly imprisoned, especially in Turkey and Iran.

3. International Relations

• The Kurds have been key U.S. allies in fighting ISIS, especially in Iraq and Syria.
• However, they often find themselves abandoned by international powers when their interests conflict with larger geopolitical goals (e.g., U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria in 2019).

📌 Summary