Kurdish People
Kurds:
An Independent People & their Complex History
The Kurdish odyssey is a testament to resilience against formidable challenges. Their ancestral homeland, Kurdistan, stretches across present-day Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey, is nestled amid the majestic Zagros and Taurus mountain ranges, embraced by the thundering currents of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and enveloped by vast, fertile plains. This region is a mosaic of cultures, where Kurds coexist alongside Arabs, Turkmen/Turks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, and Armenians. The Kurdish population remains difficult to ascertain accurately, yet estimates indicate it’s about 60 million across the Middle East and diaspora.
​
Kurds trace their origins back to ancient times. In the 9th century BC, Assyrian King Shalmaneser III, and in the 5th century BC, Greek historian Xenophon both referenced the Medes and the "Carduchoi," considered to be the ancestors of present-day Kurds. The earliest mention of “Kurdistan,” signifying the land of Kurds, dates back to the records of the 11th-century Seljuk dynasty.
​
Kurdish urban centers have long been significant in Near East civilization. Take Erbil, the present-day capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, for example. It's often hailed as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities globally, boasting a history dating back at least 6,000 years.
​
Kermanshah, situated in the eastern part of historical Kurdistan, served as the summer capital of the Sassanid Empire. This empire once held sway over a vast territory encompassing the Iranian Plateau, Mesopotamia, and Arabia prior to the advent of Islam. Cities like Diyarbakir (aka Amed) and Mardin have been bustling hubs of trade and cultural exchange for centuries, boasting diverse populations of Kurds, Armenians, and Arabs.
​
Throughout its rich history, Kurdistan has embraced a diverse tapestry of faiths, encompassing Muslims (both Sunni and Shia), Alevis, Yarsan (Kakayis), Yezidis, Zoroastrians, Christians, Baha’is, and Jews. Before the advent of Islam, ancient Kurds adhered to Zoroastrianism, Mithraism, Christianity, and Judaism. Over time, many Kurds gradually embraced Islam, primarily the Sunni branch, often adopting moderate Sufi practices. This diverse religious landscape has been cherished by Kurds and non-Kurds, shaping the unique fabric of life in Kurdistan.
​
In the post-Islamic era, one of the most renowned figures in Kurdish history was Salahaddin Ayyubi, better known as Saladin. He was celebrated for his fairness and justice, especially during his conquest of Jerusalem from Crusader armies in the 12th century. Saladin's treatment of the city's Jewish and Christian communities earned him widespread respect.
​
Kurdish culture has often been characterized by its liberal and secular aspects, setting it apart from neighboring societies. This trait is evident from historical records of Western travelers who ventured into Kurdistan over the past few centuries. For instance, Claudius James Ritch, a British diplomat in early 19th-century Baghdad, vividly described a joyful scene in the Sulaimani region of Kurdistan. He recounted seeing "about thirty ladies" dancing without veils. He wrote, "This was a really beautiful sight, and quite a novel one to me, who had never in the East seen women, especially ladies as all of these were, so freely mixing with men, without the slightest affectation of concealment."
​
Even today, media coverage of Kurdish female fighters and Kurdish women’s role in public life in the region highlights the progressive nature of Kurdish society.
Kurds:
in the Modern Era
The 16th century saw the start of Kurdistan's contemporary fragmentation, spurred by its strategic location at the crossroads of the Near East. The Battle of Chaldiran and the Treaty of Amasya divided Kurdistan between the Ottoman and Safavid empires. This division persists today, with Safavid-controlled areas now part of Iran and Ottoman territories divided among Turkey, Iraq, and Syria after World War I.
​
Kurdistan's fate could have taken a different turn. At the Treaty of Sevres in 1920, the victorious powers of World War I initially promised to establish an independent Kurdish state within a year. Yet, these pledges were reneged upon in the subsequent Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. Instead, the bulk of Ottoman Kurdistan was absorbed into the Turkish Republic, with the remaining areas incorporated into Iraq and Syria.
​
Throughout the past century, Kurds, minoritized and politically dispossessed in their homeland, have endured persecution due to their ethnic and cultural identity, as well as their quest for self-determination. Launching various movements demanding political recognition, freedom, and dignity, their struggle has faced violent suppression across all four states where Kurds reside. The states that forcibly incorporated Kurdistan have systematically stifled Kurdish efforts for cultural and political rights, at times resulting in the criminalization of Kurdish identity and cultural practices such as speaking or teaching in the Kurdish language.
​
From the brutal massacre of Alevi Kurds in Turkey's Dersim in the late 1930s to the indiscriminate killings of Kurds following the Islamic Revolution in Iran in the 1980s, and from the mass deprivation of citizenship rights for tens of thousands of Kurds in Syria to the genocidal Anfal campaign in 1980s Iraq, the Kurdish quest for freedom and dignity has persisted relentlessly. This ongoing struggle for recognition and freedom remains central to the Kurdish experience in the modern era.
​
Today, Kurds have established two self-governed entities in Iraq and Syria. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is officially recognized within the Iraqi state, while Kurds in north and northeast Syria have formed an autonomous region, backed by the United States. But the future of these Kurdish entities is now uncertain.
Despite Kurdish forces' significant sacrifices in combating extremist groups like the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, which pose serious threats to regional and global peace, Kurds find themselves increasingly abandoned by Western allies. They are left vulnerable to efforts aimed at rolling back their hard-won gains and subjecting them to renewed oppression.
​
The free world bears a moral obligation to stand in solidarity with the Kurds. Crucially, supporting Kurds is a strategic imperative for regional stability and global security. Their pivotal role in combating rogue regional actors and violent extremist groups underscores their significance on the world stage. It is incumbent upon us to steadfastly stand by them in their hour of need.
