The Kurds: A Stateless Nation in Search of Recognition

[Not A Communist Shill]

The Kurds are often described as the world’s largest ethnic group without a state of their own. They number between 30 and 45 million people, mostly living in a mountainous region that spans across Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Armenia. They share a common culture, language, and history, but have been denied the right to self-determination and autonomy by the states that rule over them. For more than a century, the Kurds have struggled for independence and recognition, facing oppression, violence, and marginalization.

The Kurdish quest for statehood dates back to the aftermath of World War I, when the Ottoman Empire collapsed and the victorious Western powers drew the borders of the modern Middle East. The Treaty of Sevres, signed in 1920, promised the creation of an autonomous Kurdish state, but it was never implemented. Instead, the Treaty of Lausanne, signed in 1923, ignored the Kurdish issue and divided the Kurdish lands among Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. The Kurds were left without a homeland, and became minorities in these countries.

Since then, the Kurds have faced various forms of repression and discrimination by the states that govern them. In Turkey, the Kurds have been subjected to assimilation policies, bans on their language and culture, and military operations against their armed resistance. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a militant group that fights for Kurdish rights and autonomy, has been engaged in a decades-long conflict with the Turkish state, which considers it a terrorist organization. The PKK has also been involved in clashes with Iran, which has its own Kurdish minority and separatist movement. In Iraq, the Kurds suffered from the brutal dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, who launched genocidal campaigns against them, such as the Anfal operation in 1988, which killed tens of thousands of Kurds with chemical weapons. In Syria, the Kurds have been denied citizenship, basic rights, and cultural expression, and have faced persecution by the Assad regime.

Despite these challenges, the Kurds have also achieved some gains and opportunities in their quest for recognition and autonomy. In Iraq, the Kurds have established a semi-autonomous region, known as the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), which has its own parliament, government, and security forces. The KRI has enjoyed relative stability and prosperity, and has been a key ally of the United States and the international community in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. In 2017, the KRI held a referendum on independence, which resulted in an overwhelming majority of votes in favor of secession. However, the referendum was rejected by the Iraqi government and the international community, and triggered a military backlash that resulted in the loss of some disputed territories, such as Kirkuk, and the imposition of sanctions and restrictions on the KRI.

In Syria, the Kurds have also played a vital role in the war against IS, forming a coalition of Kurdish, Arab, and other forces, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has received support and training from the United States and its allies. The SDF has liberated large areas of northern and eastern Syria from IS, and has established a self-administered region, known as the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), which follows a model of democratic confederalism, based on grassroots democracy, gender equality, and ecological sustainability. The AANES has also faced threats and attacks from Turkey, which considers it an extension of the PKK, and has launched several military incursions into its territory, displacing thousands of civilians and undermining its stability and security.

The Kurdish issue is not only a regional problem, but also a global one, that requires the attention and involvement of the United Nations and the international community. The UN Security Council has addressed the Kurdish issue in some of its resolutions, such as Resolution 2 in 1946, which urged the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Iran and the dissolution of the Kurdish Republic of Mahabad, a short-lived state that was established with Soviet support. The UN has also provided humanitarian assistance and protection to the Kurdish refugees and displaced people, especially in Iraq and Syria, and has supported the political dialogue and reconciliation processes in these countries. However, the UN has not recognized the right of the Kurds to self-determination and statehood, nor has it intervened to prevent or stop the violations of their human rights by the states that rule over them.

The Kurdish issue is a complex and long-standing one, that cannot be solved by military means or by ignoring the aspirations and grievances of the Kurdish people. It requires a peaceful and negotiated solution, based on dialogue, respect, and compromise, among all the parties involved, including the Kurdish representatives, the regional governments, and the international community. The UN and its agencies can play a constructive role in facilitating and supporting such a solution, by providing a platform for dialogue, mediation, and monitoring, by promoting the respect for human rights and international law, by addressing the humanitarian and development needs of the Kurdish population, and by recognizing and supporting the positive contributions of the Kurds to the stability and security of the region and the world.

[Sol]

"nation" means to have independent own state. another would be ethnic, cultural etc defined group
it's also subjective. hence should be accepted by other side

An example of "stateless nation in search of recognition" much relates to Palestina. It was declared before as nation by UN and confirmed by many states as existing in 1980s. On practice it's terrirory for many of years is occupied by Israel (except small region of Gaza until recent war) and so the status of "nation" is doubtful.

As for kurds, - they remind what happens with "palestinians". But better militarized. Rough (up to criminal) in ways to act, due to situation where they live. Turks name their military formations as terrorists, possibly for methods to deal with some civilians by political motives.