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| From Castle Ziwiye |
By Sara Shaikh Ahmadi
The Kurds are one of the oldest nations, with a distinguished national identity and traditions dating back to ancient times. Documents and scholarly research papers have argued that their linguistic and ethnic background is Indo-European and they were a major and influential part of ancient civilization and the cultural chain of humans. One of the oldest communities in the world is from the Shanedar area of Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The Kurdistan realm, from the Mannea and Assyrian kingdoms to the Median great empire and their starring role in the Sassanid Dynasty and afterward, has made many contributions and has been on the highway of the world's greatest civilizations. The Kurdish realm, on the ancient highway of civilization, was both important and strategic, placing the Kurds at the center of most important trade routes between east and west, but also making it a battlefield for the great empires. While the modern world still does not fully appreciate the Kurds, ancient civilization, their past helped to develop the society of this noble nation over the time and consequently, directly or indirectly, it has affected world history.
The most significant characteristics of the Kurdish nation are inventiveness, nobility, courage, a positive and reformist attitude and loyalty to defined norms and principles. To a large extent, they have always tried to protect these qualities. The main Kurdish territory, which has 40 million people, is divided among Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria, due to political agreements. So, the Kurdish people, with their established and defined identity, have undergone a long period of occupation, terror, genocide, discrimination, and massive efforts for assimilation. While the Kurdish people have their own rich and distinguished language, folklore and literature, they are under the policies of these four countries, which have included enforced policies of underdevelopment in the spheres of economics, politics and social structure. Since the great uprising of 1991, Kurds of Iraq are enjoying some autonomy. They are also often segregated and taunted, up to the point that the Kurdish area of Iraq was called "northern region." In Syria, island counties and Turkey, Kurdish people were named mountain Turks. With such historical insults and racism in mind, Kurds have never tolerated these offenses. Since the demise of ancient empire of Mede, which scholars have referred as the ancestors of the Kurds, they had regional principalities and took every chance to be involved in governing their own destiny. They also contributed in many fields in many Sassanid kingdoms before the rise of Islam. They also became royalty, with figures such as Karim khan Zand and Nader shah Afshar in Iran. Unfortunately, since the rise of efforts to create a modern and centralized state in Iran during the early years the 20th century, the Kurdish principalities were destroyed and successive Iranian governments deviated from justice, making discriminatory policies, and denying welfare, justice and peace to Kurdish people. Discriminatory policies, in Iran, Turkey, Syria and Iraq (and to some extent in occupied territories of Kurdistan Region), caused bloody uprisings and repressive policies by the states. These people, who have lived peacefully in their regions and surrounding areas for many years have been the victims of injustice and repressive regimes on their own land.
Following the end of World War I, Kurds as with other nationalities within the Ottoman Empire, were supposed to become independent nations and have their own nation state. This promise from the Allies did not happen because they were busy with other economic and political priorities. So, the Kurdish people, once again, were forced to continue their long-standing national struggle. Currently, this ongoing national conflict between Kurds and the four countries of Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria has been described as the Kurdish question or Kurdistan problem by the media and scholars. But if we want to be realistic, Kurds have never been the reason behind this centuries-old problem, while the governments of the four countries have been the main cause for continuation of the bloody conflict. Modern history should be seen as proof that Kurds have never tried to engage in terrorist activities, assassinations or killing civilians. At the same time, the four countries have always tried to assassinate Kurdish political leaders, and have used illegal weapons, such as chemical and napalm bombs, against Kurdish civilians. After the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, Kurds have built, by many standards, a thriving democracy.
In the federal government of Kurdistan Region in Iraq, different political parties, with different points of view, are active and can take part in elections and the political process. The proportional representation in Kurdistan Parliament allows for future shifts in power. The parties are free to use television stations, radio broadcasts and newspapers. Meanwhile, in Turkey, Kurds are not allowed to receive education in their own language. Kurdish political parties in Iran are threatened with closure and the privacy of Iranian families is invaded under the pretense of looking for satellite receivers; because having a satellite receiver without authorization is forbidden. These acts are a source of tension in the region where governments deny their own Kurdish citizens their political and cultural rights.
In the Kurdistan Regional Government, members of parliament come together from different political parties, both governing and opposition parties, in an interactive atmosphere, to make decisions for the future of their country. Meanwhile, in Turkey, after a close to a century of ethnic conflict and bloodshed, Kurds managed to take some parliamentary seats in the June 2011 general election. The Turkish government had used all legal measures to block participation of elected Kurdish MPs in parliament. The political suffocation in Turkey, which has a considerable population of Kurds, is so much that the Kurdish language was banned and forbidden from use in schools and TV communications until a few years ago. Now that Turkey is trying to become a member of European Union, and has to show it doesn't repress its ethnic minority, it has let some TV and radio channels broadcast some programs in Kurdish and calls itself as a free and democratic nation state. But it is obvious that in the absence of E.U.'s pressure, due to the country's pan-Turkism policies, Kurds were still denoted as "Mountain Turks." Again, the question comes up whether the source of the so-called "problem" is the Kurds or the ethnic policies of the Turkish state.
While Iraq's Kurdistan Region has become an island of stability and tranquility in Iraq, in the Syria of President Bashar al-Assad, who inherited power from his father, the state does not hesitate in killing civilians and there is a credible possibility of civil war in the future. The suppression in Syria is so fierce and cruel that if the international community does not provide an immediate assistance to the Syrian people, and if the Syrian government and its president remain in Syria, it could be a major blow to human rights and a sign of double standards by the Western countries and major powers. Again, it is the Syrian government that is the major source of conflict and danger for keeping peace and stability in the Middle East, not the Kurds who live in Syria and who have been through many years of cruel and repressive policies of the Baath government. If we take a deeper look, we will see that the Kurds of Syria discovered the essence of this government long ago.
According to the history of the century-old national struggle of the Kurdish people against the policies of these repressive governments in the Middle East, we can perceive the reality that Kurds will continue their struggle until they gain the freedom and dignity every human deserves.
Political perception, a sense of sincerity and the freedom of Kurdish people in Kurdistan Region of federal Iraq is seen and admired by the world because of the perception of global affairs by the Kurdish politicians and their efforts to establish democracy. However, it should be also mentioned that while this part of Kurdistan has witnessed a great deal of financial, scientific and cultural advancement, it also has highlighted the oppressive and undemocratic regimes in the region. Kurds have received the best advantage following the fall of Saddam; this new opportunity has made Kurdistan Region a safe haven not only for the Kurds but also for all the people who escape ethnic conflict, insecurity and war zones in other parts of Iraq. If the purpose of Western countries and the United States in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and their presence in this region, has been to build up freedom and democracy without any terror, rage, Islamic extremists, or tribal or religious prejudice, Kurds have welcomed this. It brings hope for a Middle East without rage, dictatorships and discrimination.
The most significant characteristics of the Kurdish nation are inventiveness, nobility, courage, a positive and reformist attitude and loyalty to defined norms and principles. To a large extent, they have always tried to protect these qualities. The main Kurdish territory, which has 40 million people, is divided among Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria, due to political agreements. So, the Kurdish people, with their established and defined identity, have undergone a long period of occupation, terror, genocide, discrimination, and massive efforts for assimilation. While the Kurdish people have their own rich and distinguished language, folklore and literature, they are under the policies of these four countries, which have included enforced policies of underdevelopment in the spheres of economics, politics and social structure. Since the great uprising of 1991, Kurds of Iraq are enjoying some autonomy. They are also often segregated and taunted, up to the point that the Kurdish area of Iraq was called "northern region." In Syria, island counties and Turkey, Kurdish people were named mountain Turks. With such historical insults and racism in mind, Kurds have never tolerated these offenses. Since the demise of ancient empire of Mede, which scholars have referred as the ancestors of the Kurds, they had regional principalities and took every chance to be involved in governing their own destiny. They also contributed in many fields in many Sassanid kingdoms before the rise of Islam. They also became royalty, with figures such as Karim khan Zand and Nader shah Afshar in Iran. Unfortunately, since the rise of efforts to create a modern and centralized state in Iran during the early years the 20th century, the Kurdish principalities were destroyed and successive Iranian governments deviated from justice, making discriminatory policies, and denying welfare, justice and peace to Kurdish people. Discriminatory policies, in Iran, Turkey, Syria and Iraq (and to some extent in occupied territories of Kurdistan Region), caused bloody uprisings and repressive policies by the states. These people, who have lived peacefully in their regions and surrounding areas for many years have been the victims of injustice and repressive regimes on their own land.
Following the end of World War I, Kurds as with other nationalities within the Ottoman Empire, were supposed to become independent nations and have their own nation state. This promise from the Allies did not happen because they were busy with other economic and political priorities. So, the Kurdish people, once again, were forced to continue their long-standing national struggle. Currently, this ongoing national conflict between Kurds and the four countries of Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria has been described as the Kurdish question or Kurdistan problem by the media and scholars. But if we want to be realistic, Kurds have never been the reason behind this centuries-old problem, while the governments of the four countries have been the main cause for continuation of the bloody conflict. Modern history should be seen as proof that Kurds have never tried to engage in terrorist activities, assassinations or killing civilians. At the same time, the four countries have always tried to assassinate Kurdish political leaders, and have used illegal weapons, such as chemical and napalm bombs, against Kurdish civilians. After the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, Kurds have built, by many standards, a thriving democracy.
In the federal government of Kurdistan Region in Iraq, different political parties, with different points of view, are active and can take part in elections and the political process. The proportional representation in Kurdistan Parliament allows for future shifts in power. The parties are free to use television stations, radio broadcasts and newspapers. Meanwhile, in Turkey, Kurds are not allowed to receive education in their own language. Kurdish political parties in Iran are threatened with closure and the privacy of Iranian families is invaded under the pretense of looking for satellite receivers; because having a satellite receiver without authorization is forbidden. These acts are a source of tension in the region where governments deny their own Kurdish citizens their political and cultural rights.
In the Kurdistan Regional Government, members of parliament come together from different political parties, both governing and opposition parties, in an interactive atmosphere, to make decisions for the future of their country. Meanwhile, in Turkey, after a close to a century of ethnic conflict and bloodshed, Kurds managed to take some parliamentary seats in the June 2011 general election. The Turkish government had used all legal measures to block participation of elected Kurdish MPs in parliament. The political suffocation in Turkey, which has a considerable population of Kurds, is so much that the Kurdish language was banned and forbidden from use in schools and TV communications until a few years ago. Now that Turkey is trying to become a member of European Union, and has to show it doesn't repress its ethnic minority, it has let some TV and radio channels broadcast some programs in Kurdish and calls itself as a free and democratic nation state. But it is obvious that in the absence of E.U.'s pressure, due to the country's pan-Turkism policies, Kurds were still denoted as "Mountain Turks." Again, the question comes up whether the source of the so-called "problem" is the Kurds or the ethnic policies of the Turkish state.
While Iraq's Kurdistan Region has become an island of stability and tranquility in Iraq, in the Syria of President Bashar al-Assad, who inherited power from his father, the state does not hesitate in killing civilians and there is a credible possibility of civil war in the future. The suppression in Syria is so fierce and cruel that if the international community does not provide an immediate assistance to the Syrian people, and if the Syrian government and its president remain in Syria, it could be a major blow to human rights and a sign of double standards by the Western countries and major powers. Again, it is the Syrian government that is the major source of conflict and danger for keeping peace and stability in the Middle East, not the Kurds who live in Syria and who have been through many years of cruel and repressive policies of the Baath government. If we take a deeper look, we will see that the Kurds of Syria discovered the essence of this government long ago.
According to the history of the century-old national struggle of the Kurdish people against the policies of these repressive governments in the Middle East, we can perceive the reality that Kurds will continue their struggle until they gain the freedom and dignity every human deserves.
Political perception, a sense of sincerity and the freedom of Kurdish people in Kurdistan Region of federal Iraq is seen and admired by the world because of the perception of global affairs by the Kurdish politicians and their efforts to establish democracy. However, it should be also mentioned that while this part of Kurdistan has witnessed a great deal of financial, scientific and cultural advancement, it also has highlighted the oppressive and undemocratic regimes in the region. Kurds have received the best advantage following the fall of Saddam; this new opportunity has made Kurdistan Region a safe haven not only for the Kurds but also for all the people who escape ethnic conflict, insecurity and war zones in other parts of Iraq. If the purpose of Western countries and the United States in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and their presence in this region, has been to build up freedom and democracy without any terror, rage, Islamic extremists, or tribal or religious prejudice, Kurds have welcomed this. It brings hope for a Middle East without rage, dictatorships and discrimination.
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