It's Time To Place Kurdistan On The Map
A brief History, ...
Who Are The Kurds?
The Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the word without a state. They are one of the indigenous people of Mesopotamian plains and the highlands in what are now south-eastern Turkey, north-eastern Syria, northern Iraq, north-western Iran and south-western Armenia. although they are split between 5 countries, what is clear a Kurdish ethnic identity and common language. Kurds have played roles in the histories of the region. But while they flourished and wielded influence in the region, Kurds lost their lands when the Ottman Empire took over most Kurdish-held territory in the 1500s. The empire’s defeat in World War I dealt a blow to kurds, too. Under the 1920 Treaty of Sevres, which dissolved the Ottoman Empire, the Allies planned to make Kurdistan autonomous. It was a victory for growing Kurdish nationalist movement, but the treaty failed and was never ratified. Turkey ended up renegotiating with the Allies, and in 1923 the revised Treaty of Lausanne abandoned plans for a self-governing Kurdistan. Since then, the Kurds have made multiple attempts to set up their own state, but their efforts have been in vain.
“We have to rectify the history of mistreatment of our people and those who are saying that independence is not good. Our question to them is, if it’s not good for us, why is it good for you?”
Masoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq
What Do The Kurds Want?
The people of Kurdistan have faced violence as an ethnic minority and deserve their own state. They have populations that would make it one of the largest countries if it does achieve statehood. The Kurdish population of 35-40 million is not a widely thinned out diaspora that spans the globe . The Kurds are spread across four neighboring countries, and the Kurdish regions of these countries are all connected. Thus, a Kurdish state could unite these disconnected regions, taking a small portion of land from each of these four countries to form a new nation — an independent Kurdistan. This is not a pipe dream either; the Kurds already have their own functioning society. In fact, an unofficial Kurdistan already exists in Northern Iraq. And while there are Kurdish regions across Iran, Turkey and Syria, Iraqi Kurdistan is the only 1 of the 4 which already functions as an independently recognized, autonomous region. Furthermore, Iraqi Kurdistan was first recognized in a 1970 agreement with the Iraqi government and has essentially functioned as an independent state ever since. Additionally, Iraqi Kurdistan has its own court system, police force and even has its own military known as the peshmerga. If Iraqi Kurdistan is any indication of what a Kurdish state would be like, then the results are awe-inspiring and uplifting. Kurdistan is a peaceful region with airports and free travel. Additionally, Kurdish women serve in the peshmerga and the Kurdish parliament. The people of Kurdistan deserve independence. Over the past 20 years, 10 new countries have been successfully created. In 1900, only 49 countries existed. Today, there are 195 recognized countries. The geography of the world’s nations is not done shaping themselves. New countries are being created all the time. As the populations of minority groups sore and cultural divides become more distinct over time, the need for national sovereignty arises. In the case of Iraqi Kurdistan, it already functions as its own country. Only through sovereignty can all Kurds have a place to call their own
“The Kurds have fought, bled and died fighting alongside the U.S.
Lee Zeldin
Why Should We Support Kurds?
Kurdish people have every right to nationhood adhering to a destiny without fear of persecution. Kurdistan and its people have given so much in the fight against ISIS. The Kurds are western countries’ and America’s most reliable allies in the fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq, It was the Kurds who saved Iraq and Syria from teetering on the brink of collapse. Kurds have promoted democracy, tolerance, religous freedom and the pro-Western agenda which is compatible with Kurdish culture. International leaders must pledge to defend the Kurdish people from persecution, in order to prevent a possible genocide in the near future. It is time to put real pressure on Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran to open a promising dialogue for greater Kurdish autonomy and one day, a free and independent Kurdistan. Kurdish independence is long overdue. it will bring peace and stability much needed for this region. it will also be an obstacle to greater Iranian hegemony in Middle east.
