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'''Kurds''' are one of the |
'''Kurds''' are one of the [[Iranian peoples]] and speak [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]], a north-Western [[Iranian language]] related to [[Persian language|Persian]]. They are, like most of the people of western Iran, descendents of Ancient [[Mede|Medes]]. |
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The majority of Kurds are [[Sunni]] Muslims (80%), but a large population of Iran's Kurds living in the provinces of Kermanshah and Ilam are [[Shiite]] as well as the Fayli-speaking [[Kurds]] in [[Iraq]], they compromise 15% of the Kurdish religions. For over a century, Kurds have been campaigning (often through violence as well as political means) for the right to their own state, which they often refer to as [[Kurdistan]] (Kurdish homeland). However, despite their efforts and help of European countries, all the region's governments are opposed to such an idea, which would require them losing parts of their own territories |
The majority of Kurds are [[Sunni]] Muslims (80%), but a large population of Iran's Kurds living in the provinces of Kermanshah and Ilam are [[Shiite]] as well as the Fayli-speaking [[Kurds]] in [[Iraq]], they compromise 15% of the Kurdish religions. For over a century, Kurds have been campaigning (often through violence as well as political means) for the right to their own state, which they often refer to as [[Kurdistan]] (Kurdish homeland). However, despite their efforts and help of European countries, all the region's governments are opposed to such an idea, which would require them losing parts of their own territories and would significantly destabilise the region as declared in a uniform statement by all the countries involved in a uniform statement. |
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Compromising more than 30 million people, the Kurds are said to be the world's largest [[List of stateless ethnic groups|ethnic group without its own state]]. |
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==Demographics== |
==Demographics== |
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The exact number of Kurdish people living in [[Southwest Asia]] is unknown due to both absence of a recent study on this issue and the fact that some of Kurdish people have mixed with other local ethnic groups. |
The exact number of Kurdish people living in [[Southwest Asia]] is unknown due to both absence of a recent study on this issue and the fact that some of Kurdish people have mixed with other local ethnic groups. |
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The estimated number of Kurdish people by country ( |
The estimated number of Kurdish people by country (<i>unofficial</i>): |
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{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa |
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%;" align=left |
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|[[Turkey]] |
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⚫ | |||
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|align="left"|12,000,000 - 20,000,000 |
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| 12,000,000 || – || 20,000,000 |
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|[[Iran]] |
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|align="left"|8,000,000 - 9,000,000 |
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|[[Iraq]] |
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|align="left"|5,000,000 - 6,000,000 |
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|[[Syria]] |
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|align="left"|1,500,000 - 2,000,000 |
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|[[Lebanon]] |
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|align="left"|~150,000 |
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|[[Germany]] |
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|align="left"|~500,000 |
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|Elsewhere in [[Europe]] and <br>other western countries |
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|align="left"|~1,000,000 |
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|- valign=top |
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|[[Armenia]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]],<br> [[Azerbaijan]], [[Russia]],<br> [[Uzbekistan]], [[Tajikistan]],<br> [[Turkmenistan]] and other. |
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|align="left"|500,000 - 1,000,000 |
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|TOTAL |
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|align="left"|28,650,000 - 39,650,000 |
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<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> |
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<br clear=all/> |
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==Religion== |
==Religion== |
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===In Iraq=== |
===In Iraq=== |
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The status of Kurds |
The status of Kurds is now clouded by uncertainty. Under the former [[Iraq|Iraqi]] [[Ba'ath Party|Ba'athist]] regime, which ruled Iraq from [[1968]] until [[2003]], they were initially granted limited autonomy |
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(1970), and after the [[Mustafa Barzani|Barzani]] revolt in 1961 given some high-level political representation in [[Baghdad]]. However, for various reasons including the siding of some Kurds with Iranian forces during the [[Iran-Iraq War]] in the [[1980s]], the regime became opposed to the Kurds and an effective civil war broke out. Iraq was widely condemned, but not seriously punished, by the international community for using chemical weapons against the Kurds, which caused the death of thousands of Kurds. Kurdish regions during the [[1990s]] had de-facto independence, with fully functioning civil administrations, and were protected by the US-enforced [[Iraqi no-fly zone]] which stopped Iraqi air raids. During the period of self-governance there were armed clashes between the three main political/military groups in the area, each claiming the title of Kurdistan's government, which undermined the effectiveness of the Kurds in their fighting with the Iraqis. Following the unseating of the former Iraqi President [[Saddam Hussein]] in [[2003]], little is known as to how 'Kurdistan' issue will be dealt with in the future. The American-sponsored idea of a Federal Republic, with a relatively high level of autonomy for the Kurds, currently appears to be the most popular among the people and is opposed by the surrounding nations as it will destabilize the already troubled region. Election of Dr. [[Jalal Talabani]],secretary general of the [[Patriotic Union of Kurdistan]], suggests a greater autonomy. |
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===In Turkey=== |
===In Turkey=== |
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* [[Kurdistan Democratic Party]] (runs an elected government in Northern Iraq) |
* [[Kurdistan Democratic Party]] (runs an elected government in Northern Iraq) |
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* [[Patriotic Union of Kurdistan]] (runs an elected government in Northern Iraq) |
* [[Patriotic Union of Kurdistan]] (runs an elected government in Northern Iraq) |
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''' |
'''Terrorist:''' |
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* [[Kurdistan Workers Party]] (PKK, dissolved to KADEK) |
* [[Kurdistan Workers Party]] (PKK, dissolved to KADEK) |
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* [[Kurdistan Workers Party|Congress for Freedom and Democracy Kurdistan]] (KADEK, dissolved to Kongra-Gel) |
* [[Kurdistan Workers Party|Congress for Freedom and Democracy Kurdistan]] (KADEK, dissolved to Kongra-Gel) |
Revision as of 02:47, 11 April 2005
Kurds are one of the Iranian peoples and speak Kurdish, a north-Western Iranian language related to Persian. They are, like most of the people of western Iran, descendents of Ancient Medes.
The majority of Kurds are Sunni Muslims (80%), but a large population of Iran's Kurds living in the provinces of Kermanshah and Ilam are Shiite as well as the Fayli-speaking Kurds in Iraq, they compromise 15% of the Kurdish religions. For over a century, Kurds have been campaigning (often through violence as well as political means) for the right to their own state, which they often refer to as Kurdistan (Kurdish homeland). However, despite their efforts and help of European countries, all the region's governments are opposed to such an idea, which would require them losing parts of their own territories and would significantly destabilise the region as declared in a uniform statement by all the countries involved in a uniform statement.
Demographics
The exact number of Kurdish people living in Southwest Asia is unknown due to both absence of a recent study on this issue and the fact that some of Kurdish people have mixed with other local ethnic groups.
The estimated number of Kurdish people by country (unofficial):
Turkey | 12,000,000 - 20,000,000 |
Iran | 8,000,000 - 9,000,000 |
Iraq | 5,000,000 - 6,000,000 |
Syria | 1,500,000 - 2,000,000 |
Lebanon | ~150,000 |
Germany | ~500,000 |
Elsewhere in Europe and other western countries |
~1,000,000 |
Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and other. |
500,000 - 1,000,000 |
TOTAL | 28,650,000 - 39,650,000 |
Religion
Before the Islam conquerors in the 7th century, most of the Kurds believed in Zoroastrianism which is believed to be one of the oldest religions in the world. Today Islam is the main religion of the Kurds making it 95% of their faiths. Most of them being Sunni Muslims (about 75%). Alevi's, make up some 10% as well as Shia Kurds who primarly live in the Kermanshah and Ilam provinces of Iran.
The other religions (5%) are Christians, Jews and Yezidi's (possibly from Zoroastrianism)
The status of Kurds
In Iraq
The status of Kurds is now clouded by uncertainty. Under the former Iraqi Ba'athist regime, which ruled Iraq from 1968 until 2003, they were initially granted limited autonomy (1970), and after the Barzani revolt in 1961 given some high-level political representation in Baghdad. However, for various reasons including the siding of some Kurds with Iranian forces during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, the regime became opposed to the Kurds and an effective civil war broke out. Iraq was widely condemned, but not seriously punished, by the international community for using chemical weapons against the Kurds, which caused the death of thousands of Kurds. Kurdish regions during the 1990s had de-facto independence, with fully functioning civil administrations, and were protected by the US-enforced Iraqi no-fly zone which stopped Iraqi air raids. During the period of self-governance there were armed clashes between the three main political/military groups in the area, each claiming the title of Kurdistan's government, which undermined the effectiveness of the Kurds in their fighting with the Iraqis. Following the unseating of the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in 2003, little is known as to how 'Kurdistan' issue will be dealt with in the future. The American-sponsored idea of a Federal Republic, with a relatively high level of autonomy for the Kurds, currently appears to be the most popular among the people and is opposed by the surrounding nations as it will destabilize the already troubled region. Election of Dr. Jalal Talabani,secretary general of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, suggests a greater autonomy.
In Turkey
Teaching in Kurdish and the publication of both printed and audio-visual media is allowed, although very restricted. Recent reforms promised limited broadcasting in Kurdish. Kurds, when they describe themself as Turks, may take their place in any part of Turkish life including the National Assembly. However, if Kurds describe themselves explicitly as a Kurdish in regard to their nationality, they are not allowed to participate in any legal process. This distinction is important to understand the real situation of Kurds in Turkey, both in "de facto" and "de jure" conditions.
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)
Kurdish PKK guerillas, supported by Greek, Armenian and Syrian governments, launched attacks on Turkish targets since 1984, and since then they have fought against the Turkish government until the capture of Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the PKK, in 1999. Soon after capture Abdullah Öcalan was tried and sentenced with death penalty (the sentence later was reduced to life imprisonment) for treason and the Kurdish rebel movement in Turkey declared and maintained a cease fire but continue its activities on political platform. After the capture of Abdullah Öcalan, the PKK was declared as a terrorist organization in European Union and the USA after.
The Kurdish guerillas are blamed for a considerable amount of violence (primarily as PKK) for the past two decades.
Culture
Kurdish organisations
Political:
- Hak ve Özgürlükler Partisi (HAK-PAR, Rights and Freedoms Party) (Operates primarily in Soulth-Eastern Turkey)
- Halkin Demokrasi Partisi (HADEP, Peoples' Democracy Party) (Operates primarily in Soulth-Eastern Turkey)
- Kurdistan Democratic Party (runs an elected government in Northern Iraq)
- Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (runs an elected government in Northern Iraq)
Terrorist:
- Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK, dissolved to KADEK)
- Congress for Freedom and Democracy Kurdistan (KADEK, dissolved to Kongra-Gel)
- People's Congress of Kurdistan (Kongra-Gel)
Recent history of the Kurds
- January 4, 2003: U.S. plan to invade Iraq: Turkey's Milliyet newspaper published a picture showing tanks at an airstrip that it said was the disused Bamerni air base inside Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq. If this report is true, this may be the first evidence of a NATO military presence in Iraq. [1]
- February 25, 2003: Both major parties of Kurdistan, an autonomous region in Northern Iraq, vow to fight Turkish troops if they enter Kurdistan to capture Mosul or interfere in Kurdish self-rule. Between them the two parties can mobilize up to 80,000 guerillas - most likely no match for the modern Turkish army, but complicate relations between U.S. allies on the Northern front expected in the U.S. plan to invade Iraq.
- March 12, 2003: The European Court of Human Rights rules that the Turkish trial of Abdullah Öcalan, leader of the terrorist organisation PKK, was not fair.
- March 21, 2003: The arrest of Ansar al-Islam is ordered by Økokrim, a Norwegian law enforcement agency, to ensure he does not leave Norway while accusations that he had threatened terrorist attacks were investigated.
- April 6, 2003: In a friendly fire incident, U.S. warplanes struck a convoy of allied Kurdish fighters and U.S. Special Forces during a battle in northern Iraq. At least 18 people are killed and more than 45 wounded, including senior Kurdish commanders.
- April 10, 2003: U.S. Green Berets and Kurdish fighters enter the city of Kirkuk in Iraq with little resistance. Turkey and U.S., in separate statements, say they will not allow the Kurds to occupy the city. [2], [3]
- June 12, 2003: In Dokan, Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leaders set up a six-member committee to map out a plan for unification.
- April 6, 2005: Jalal Talabani, secretary general of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, is named as Iraq's President
- See also: History of the Kurds