Paradigm shift in Middle Eastern social and political structure at the beginning of the last century had significant impact on all the nations in the region, particularly Kurds, whom were deprived of their right to self-governing under the rules of Lausanne Treaty 1923.
Ever since Kurds have been in uninterrupted struggle against the rigid rules of the Lausanne Treaty which as a result of their constant rejection of the rules were subjected to the most harshest policies internationally and regionally. Once the theory of Nation-State transformed to Middle East, the socio-cultural norms of the nations had no place within the framework theory of the Nation-State. Liberal theory of global civil society left Kurds with no alternatives to gain their rights and preserve their culture and history except resort to force to defend the remaining heritage of the nations. As a result of the Kurdish rejection to the new phenomena in the region, International community specially advocates or founders of the globalization and regional guards of the theory subjected Kurds in all social, cultural and political dimensions to the harsh and brutal policies with the aim to eliminate Kurdish resistance and compel Kurds to accept the Nation-State as a fact and accept what has been imposed upon them via various means.
In this regards Kurds whom were living under the Ottoman ruling were divided between Turkey, Iraq and Syria and Kurds whom were part of the Safavi ruling remained as part of new and modern Iranian Nation-State. it is undeniable that intolerance is part of the notion of Nation-State, thus, without understanding the concept of absolute sovereignty and the concept it is hard if not impossible to be able to conceive the atrocities and genocide which Kurds were subjected to since the foundation of the Nation-State in the region.
States are sovereign and Law cannot regulate them or constrain their action when the very existence of the concept is challenged. Unfortunately, this theory has not been understood properly and most of Kurdish people still believe that the core issue is rulers not the concept of the Nation-State. If we analyze and study four countries in historical context it could be realised that since their foundations rules were removed, toppled but the harsh policies against Kurds were unmodified in nature and still exist.
Four States used all available means in their possession to annihilate Kurdish culture, history and social structure. In 1930 Turkey committed Massacre against Kurds in Zilan and 1937 in Dersim which tens of thousends civilians were massacred by the Turkish authorities. After Second World War II the Shah of Iran, Father, after the collapse of Kurdistan Republic a de facto entity which was founded by Qazi Mohammad committed indiscriminate crimes against Kurds and so the founder of the Islamic regime in 1979 where Ayatollah Khomeini proclaimed Jihad against Kurdish people. Syrian regime despite considering its self as Socialist it deprived Kurds of their basic rights systematically and displaced hundreds of thousands of Kurdish civilians from their land. Saddam Hussein as the successor of former Iraqi president step its feet in the same path and since he took over in 1979 had used its national and international means in his possession to eliminate Kurdish identity in Iraq, therefore, he launched Anfal campaign in early 1980s where he buried thousands of Kurdish civilians, including children, elderly men and women.
As a part of Baathist policy against the Kurdish people on 16th of March 1988 Saddam viewed the Iranian occupation of Helebce (Halabja) as an opportunity to use internationally prohibited weapons against Kurdish civilians which as a result thousands of civilians were killed. International community, United Nations Security Council and European Union despite the clear image of the atrocity perpetuated by Saddam Hussein failed to take any action and hold the responsible officials in account.
Kurds shall remember that the threat still exists and it is not depending on regimes rather it is part of the Nation-States’ nature. As far as State viewed as an entity above law it is highly likely to become victim of similar atrocities. It is fault to think that the physical genocide of Kurds stopped once Saddam Hussein was removed from the power, in today’s Turkish, Iranian and Syrian politics Kurds are witnessing all kinds of suppression which is aimed to annihilate the very existence of the Kurds. For the state to advance its genocidial policies against ethnic and religious minorities it needs to rely on “soft” and “hard” powers. Today Kurds are facing cultural genocide through various soft powers implemented by the dominant regimes in Kurdistan.
Therefore, on 26 anniversary of Helebce, Rojhelat.info on behalf of Kurdish people calling on the UN, EU, USA, Security Council and the rest of the International Community not to support Kurdish cultural genocide and stop support and abide Turkish, Syrian, Iranian and Iraqi regimes directly or indirectly through criminalization of the Kurdish legitimate national movements and struggle.
Rojhelat.info