A Kurdish farmer once said, “Our homeland is the mountains.” This cleaves one’s heart and mind to the memories and agony that the Kurdish people, as a nation distributed all over some of the most turbulent regions in the world, have suffered. As Turkish airstrikes target Kurdish strongholds in Syria and Iraq, the Kurds find themselves again embroiled in the grand chess game. As Syria is at war and a new balance of forces is coming to the fore, the fate of the Kurds is left to the imagination at best.
Promises Made, Promises Broken
The Kurdish cause is one full of broken hopes. The Treaty of Sèvres in 1920 set up a Kurdish state. However, this hope went down the drain only three years later with the Treaty of Lausanne, which scattered the Kurds into Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. The Kurds are the largest nation without a state, with a population exceeding 30 million, but their role in the geopolitics of the Middle East is still crucial. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is semi-autonomous in Iraq because of these oil reserves. On the contrary, the political and diplomatic potency of the KRG is often sabotaged by a longstanding feud between its two major political parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
Meanwhile, Kurdish forces with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been instrumental in the defeat of ISIS. But the victory was not without cost. The U.S. support of the SDF had angered Turkey, whose longstanding concern is that the SDF shares links with the PKK, which Turkey and several other countries consider a terrorist group. Turkey’s incursions have compounded the problems in this already volatile region.
Diverse Identities
The Kurdish people share a common language and history but are very different in culture and religion. While the majority of the Kurds seem to be Sunni Muslims, significant Yazidi, Christian, and Yarsani communities exist. This diversity is both a blessing and a curse, as foreigners often manipulate it to create friction. One of the most enduring examples of this has been the genocide of the Yazidis at the hands of ISIS, exemplifying how fragile the social standing of the minorities in the Kurdish society is.
Such division, such as oppression, in this case, is Kurdish unity. The buck is passed first to the Iranian and then to Saudi machinations. The Saudi support for Kurdish self-rule is a measure to counter Iran’s influence, whereas Iran’s purpose is to crush Kurdish revolts within her borders mercilessly.
Caught Between Superpowers
Suffering and blessing equally describe the Kurds due to their geography. Their land is rich in oil and is situated at a key point where trade routes connecting the Middle East, Europe, and Central Asia intersect. This makes them valuable to superpowers but also poses challenges.
The United States has strengthened its alliance with the Kurdish people, yet this partnership appears to be primarily self-serving. This is clear from 2019, when the U.S. broke its promises of support when it allowed the conflict to occur, leaving the U.S.-controlled region fraught with Turkish involvement.
In contrast, Russia’s approach is different. It showed support for Turkey while facilitated discussions between the Kurds and Assad. This strategy benefited Russia as it improved its influence and hindered Kurdish aspirations for independence. Meanwhile, both Saudi Arabia and Iran leverage the discontent of local Islamic groups to further their agendas in the region.
A Price Paid in Blood
For the Kurds, the price of a nation is high, marked by lost lives, ruined homes, and dashed hopes. In Turkey, Kurdish leaders and advocates often face imprisonment due to strict anti-terror laws. In Syria, the ongoing conflict has shattered Kurdish areas, driving many into refugee shelters. Even in Iraq’s Kurdistan, which is more stable, growth is hindered by corruption and ongoing disagreements with Baghdad concerning shared revenues.
The challenges of 2024 have handiest deepened those struggles. As the new Turkiovernment in northern Syria consolidates strength, the Kurds face renewed threats to their cultural and territorial integrity. Yet their resilience shines through. Across Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran, Kurds keep asserting their identification and fighting for self-willpower.
A Call for Unity and Justice
The Kurds’ path ahead relies upon overcoming inner divisions. A united front—rooted in shared cultural and political goals—should make their voice bigger worldwide. But the worldwide community needs to additionally step up, spotting the Kurds’ proper to self-dedication and moving beyond the transactional alliances of the beyond.
For over a century, the Kurds have been betrayed by both nearby and global powers. The query now is whether or not history will repeat itself or if a new chapter will ultimately bring justice and recognition to these resilient human beings. The answer lies not only in the moves of countries but also in the Kurds’ potential to navigate the complexities in their fragmented existence and seize the instant for solidarity and development.
Sources
- “The Treaty of Sèvres and the Kurdish Question,” Middle East Studies Journal.
- “Stateless Nations: The Case of the Kurds,” Global Policy Forum.
- “Kurdish Autonomy in Iraq: Challenges and Opportunities,” Carnegie Middle East Center.
- “The Syrian Democratic Forces and the Fight Against ISIS,” International Crisis Group.
- “Turkey’s Military Campaigns Against Kurdish Forces,” Al-Monitor.
- “The Yazidi Genocide: Lessons and Consequences,” Human Rights Watch.
- “Iran’s Crackdown on Kurdish Protests,” Amnesty International.
- “U.S. Withdrawal from Syria: Implications for the Kurds,” The Washington Institute.
- “Russia’s Role in the Kurdish Question,” The Guardian.
- “Kurdistan’s Economic Woes and Baghdad Relations,” Financial Times.
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