Do Kurds have their own country?
Presently, Iraqi Kurdistan first gained autonomous status in a 1970 agreement with the Iraqi government, and its status was re-confirmed as the autonomous Kurdistan Region within the federal Iraqi republic in 2005. There is also a Kurdistan Province in Iran, but it is not self-ruled.
When did the Kurds start to struggle for an independent state?
1978
In 1978, Abdullah Ocalan established the PKK, which called for an independent state within Turkey. Six years later, the group began an armed struggle. Since then, more than 40,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.
Why are the Kurds important?
The Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the world without a state—they are primarily split between Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria—yet they have often played important roles in US foreign policy. As they pushed back the Islamic State, the Kurds set up their own democratic, secular government in northern Syria.
Why can’t the Kurds have a country?
Why don’t they have a country? After the Ottoman Empire was defeated in World War I, victorious Western powers agreed in the 1920 Treaty of Sèvres to create a Kurdish state. All the nations where Kurds now live are opposed to granting them a homeland or true autonomy — particularly Turkey.
Do Iraqi Kurds want independence?
An independence referendum for Kurdistan Region of Iraq was held on 25 September 2017, with preliminary results showing approximately 92.73 percent of votes cast in favour of independence…
Why do Kurds leave Iran?
Following the 1991 uprising of the Iraqi people against Saddam Hussein, many Kurds were forced to flee the country to become refugees in bordering regions of Iran and Turkey. A northern no-fly zone was established following the First Gulf War in 1991 to facilitate the return of Kurdish refugees.
What is unique about Kurds?
1. The Kurds have a unique and difficult history in the Middle East. The Kurds are often referred to as one of the largest ethnic groups in the world with no state of their own. The most populous Kurdish community is in Turkey — about 13 million.
Who are the Kurds descendants of?
Kurds are an Iranian people, and the first known Indo-Iranians in the region were the Mitanni, who established a kingdom in northern Syria five centuries after the fall of Gutium. The Mitanni are believed to have spoken an Indo-Aryan language, or perhaps a pre-split Indo-Iranian language.