The Kurdish cause has made us into what and who we now are, as most Kurds seem to have become deep nationalists because of the sufferings they have been through, and the loss of lives they have had to grieve.
The tragedy that is the Kurdish dream has set a blaze in the hearts of Kurds everywhere. While the Kurds in Rojava (Western-Kurdistan) are now fighting to protect what is their homeland, other parts of Greater Kurdistan have endured this battle for decades. Bakur (Northern-Kurdistan) is currently in what is known to be “peace talks” with the Turkish government, in order to find an understanding and to set a way forward for both sides.
Kurds in Bashur (Southern-Kurdistan) are still working to strengthen their position in Kurdistan, as well as the Middle East, despite the fall of Saddam and his Baath party happened over a decade ago. Advocates in Rojhelat (Eastern-Kurdistan) organize activism on a frequent basis now days, and brave activists are willing to stand for their beliefs no matter how young they are. Although such activities are increasing, there are almost no political agenda within Rojhelat’s region. The Iranian government has been chasing, executing and kidnapping anyone they see fit for decades. Thus, there is no room to breathe, and never a moment to strategize and unite the parties.
Na-tion-al-ism
1. Devotion to the interests or culture of one’s nation.
2. The belief that nations will benefit from acting independently rather than
collectively, emphasizing national rather than international goals.
3. Aspirations for national independence in a country under foreign domination.
Lets return to Bashur for a moment, to see if the Kurds there have been able to nourish the land on their own with the achieved autonomy. Since Saddam’s fall in 2003, the Kurdish Regional Government, Herêmî Kurdistan in Kurdish, has flourished immensely. The booming economy has attracted businesses from all around the globe, and the KRG had the world’s fastest growing economy in 2013.
The region has become a safe haven while in the care of the Kurdish security forces, within the otherwise news portrayed bloody Iraq. Presently, the region is one of the most stabilized areas in the Middle East, as there have been minimal terrorist attacks after the KRG were installed as the head of government.
KRG’s politics have been positive to the contemporary developments in Southern Kurdistan, and as a result human rights have improved, and the average life expectancy has increased. Women’s rights have also seen a slight improvement, and it will hopefully continue even more in the coming time. Herêmî Kurdistan has shown that it is able to function and restructure itself without resorting to any type of violence towards other nations. Bashuri Kurds have shown the world how they are able to live peacefully with oppressors from the “past” while still creating a safe and healthy environment for anyone that is willing to live by their side in a peaceful manner.
On the western frontier of Rojava, a similar situation and “safe heaven” have been created. While the rest of Syria has turned into an unfortunate chaos as hundreds of thousands of innocent people have been murdered, raped and forcibly displaced, the Kurdish political and army identity have been successful in securing the Kurdish cities and villages in an attempt to stabilize the region. YPG armed forces have driven out terrorists from this area, and by doing so they are not only protecting Kurdish citizens, but also everyone who is in need of protection. The political leaders in Rojava are forming a unity within the political parties to form a united front and establish an autonomous Western Kurdistan within the borders of Syria. The Kurdish people, that previously did not have any human or civil rights in Assad’s Syria, are now able to rebuild the land they rightfully own. Furthermore, they can to a certain extent enjoy a newfound safety provided by the Kurdish fighters, which neither the Syrian army nor the FSA could provide for them.
Her·i·tage
1. Property that is or can be inherited; an inheritance.
2. Something that is passed down from preceding generations.
3. The status acquired by a person through birth; a birthright.
Although some see Bakur’s new “peace process” as propaganda, the cooperation is first of all a statement that Kurds are willing to solve the situation in a democratic manner, despite the undemocratic treatment of Kurdish politicians and activists in Turkey.
The PKK has called upon a ceasefire and halted their operations within Turkey. The Kurds in Bakur are fighting for their rights as one united front, and have held protests in a peaceful manner. The political parties have agreed to not seek to divide the country from the Turkish border, but to rather achieve a similar autonomy as Bashur.
Seeing Bashur’s progress, we are letting the world know that Kurds are the only ones that can rebuild the lands that belong to the Kurdish people. Kurds are ready to sacrifice, but more importantly, they are willing to help the ones in need. They have shown the world time and time again that while others have oppressed us, we will not seek vengeance, or be hateful towards those who martyred us.
We are ready to lead, rebuild and protect this region, just like we have done hundreds of years in the past. The future can only become brighter from here on out.