|
For
Kurds, the most recent highlight from recent news
reports is that long-time Kurdish leader, Jalal
Talabani, or Mam (Uncle) Jalal as many Kurds call
him, has been named the president of Iraq. Not only
is this a historical point in the history of Iraq
that a President has been democratically elected to
lead the country, it is also a historical point in
that this is the first time ever that there has been
a Kurdish President of Iraq or any Middle Eastern
state in the20 th or21 st centuries.
"Turkish politicians just north were delighted about
the election of a Kurdish leader because they feel
that it will either temporarily or permanently end
Kurdish aspirations for independence."
Kurds exuberantly celebrated in the streets of
southern Kurdistan at the news that their leader had
attained the Presidential seat. Alongside the
Kurdish celebration in southern Kurdistan, Turkish
politicians just north were delighted about the
election of a Kurdish leader because they feel that
it will either temporarily or permanently end
Kurdish aspirations for independence. Turkish
politicians feared during the power distribution in
Iraq that Kurds would be the primary beneficiary,
particularly because of the possible official
inclusion of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk into
Kurdish-administered territory. The politicians
feared that any move for independence in southern
Kurdistan would cause an eruption of nationalistic
aspirations in the hearts of the Kurdish population
living under Turkish control. Although it is
undeniable that, in the heart of every Kurd, the
news of a Kurdish Iraqi President has come as the
greatest in years for the stateless nation, there
must be a certain discomfort amongst Kurds. The
participation in an Iraqi state may undermine their
long time aspirations for an independent Kurdistan.
In January, alongside the Iraqi and Kurdistan
Parliamentary elections, there was an unofficial
poll conducted which asked whether people in
Kurdistan wished to stay part of Iraq or preferred
to declare independence from Baghdad. The outcome
was that98 % of those who voted desired
independence. The Kurdish leadership, on the
contrary, has reiterated that independence is not a
feasible solution at this moment, and that a
promising future for the Iraqi Kurds lies within
Iraq.
Even if there manages to be a success for Kurds
within Iraq, what does this mean for Kurds across
the border? For instance, problems for Kurds in
Turkey still remain unsolved despite Turkish
attempts at reform to comply with European Union
standards. Turkish officials are displaying an
attitude of unwillingness to change in several
aspects. This was just recently displayed when
demonstrations on International Women’s Day resulted
in Turkish police brutality. Additionally, Turkish
leaders are claiming to rebuild villages in noeth
Kurdistan (eastern Turkey) and return villagers who
are currently living in the slums of the big cities
to their homes. Conflictingly, Turkish officials are
in the process of building dams, which violate EU
standards and human rights because of their adverse
affects on thousands of villagers. An international
delegation from Europe that visited Turkey recently
stated that there was no change in the fundamental
mentality of the Turkish government regarding the
Kurdish issue.
Although many Kurds support acceptance into the EU
in hopes that it will create positive changes in
Turkey, actual implementation of these changes is
not visible and one cannot but wonder how long it
will take if it does indeed happen at all.
"The Kurds have a lengthy history of participating
in the politics of another nation’s state only to
end up in the same deadlocked position in which they
currently find themselves."
The question that must be asked of the Kurdish
leadership in Iraq, who certainly at the minimum has
indicated a future plan for independence, is how
serious they are about it. Denying that independence
is a feasible solution illustrates to the rest of
the world that Kurds are not dedicated to these
ambitions. Furthermore, a question must be asked of
how promising a Kurdish future is within Iraq. The
Kurds have a lengthy history of participating in the
politics of another nation’s state only to end up in
the same deadlocked position in which they currently
find themselves. In the past, it was Kurds who
provided military assistance and participated in the
foundation of the Persian Empire, particularly
during the Sassaniad Era. During the great Ottoman
Empire, it was Kurdish princes who signed peace
treaties with the Ottomans and helped them to
achieve their Islamic conquests. And it was a Kurd
who united the Islamic world and drove the crusaders
out of Jerusalem to reclaim Palestine. Indeed, it
has been indicated by several Sunni and Shiite
leaders that Iraq is an Arab state above all. In
accordance to these statements, Kurds are only
participating in an Arab State, and indeed, Iraq is
not a state for its diverse ethnic population, which
includes Kurds. Although one could argue that Kurds
can make great achievements in Iraq for themselves,
the same notion was thought during these past eras
and the benefits for Kurds never lasted.
Additionally, none of them provided any solid
justification for a future Kurdish state.
Instead, once Kurds no longer possessed power in
these unions, they were eventually persecuted by the
very people with whom they once worked so
determinedly.
Goran Sadjadi is a member of the Kurdish National
Congress of North America’s Kurdish American Youth
Committee.
www.kurdishmedia.com
Top |
® 