On centenary of deal that divided them, Kurds share hopes of own homeland
Meanwhile, Kurdish politicians expressed hope that dreams of independence could materialize soon if leaders take the right steps.
The Sykes-Picot agreement, which demarcated the Middle East into Anglo-French imperial spheres of control at the end of the First World War, cut through Kurdish-populated territories in the Middle East.
Today the world’s Kurds are scattered over parts of Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Syria, each group struggling to retain identity or fighting for greater rights, autonomy or outright independence from nations where they never felt they belonged.
Kurds in Iraq and Syria appear closest to their dreams: In Iraq, an independence referendum may take place this year; meanwhile, Syrian Kurds this year made history by declaring a federal Kurdish zone.
“It is the time for Kurdistan (Kurds in Iraq) to become an independent state. Our flags will be set among the flags of world states,” a Diaspora Kurd from Iraqi Kurdistan said.
Meanwhile Amin, a young Kurd from Rojava – or Syrian Kurdistan -- who currently lives in Germany dreams of what Kurds call Greater Kurdistan, or the reunification of all the separated parts of Kurdish lands into a single independent state.
“Kurds in Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey must be united and follow their dream of a Kurdish independent state,” he said.
But Kurdish politicians in Iraqi Kurdistan, who have witnessed a dramatic change of the borderlines in Iraq and Syria since the emergence of the Islamic State (ISIS) nearly two years ago, believe that Kurds in these two places are closer to their goals.
“The emergence of Daesh (ISIS) has automatically erased borderlines that were created by Sykes-Picot. There is also a war going on in Iraq and Syria that can change many things,” Erbil-based Kurdish politician Mahmud Osman told Rudaw.
Mohammad Raouf, another Kurdish politician, explained that Syria and Iraq “have lost their previous power and I believe they will not regain it. Iraq and Syria have lost parts of their borders.”
Both politicians yet insisted that Kurdish leaders must take wise steps in order not to miss an historical opportunity.
“Kurd must be united inside and must have a coherent strategy,” Raouf said.
Similarly, Osman explained that “Kurds must have a national plan and especially Kurds in Bashour (Iraqi Kurdistan) must have their own plan and must lobby their cause in other states, especially those countries with important voices on this issue.”
Meanwhile, the Kurds of both Iran and Turkey have very little self-determination.
In Iran, President Hassan Rouhani promised reforms last year, which have yet to bear fruit.
Despite these difficulties, Kurds in both places continue to dream of freedom and independence.
Hussein, a Kurd from Iran who now lives in Germany, told Rudaw that “a nation with a population of more than 40 million has the right to have its own country. I want Kurds to be united and push for an end to a treaty that was imposed on our nation a hundred years ago.”
The world’s Kurds are estimated at between 25-30 million people – the largest nation without a homeland.
“Kurds must receive the benefit of the current situation. I believe there is a good opportunity for Kurds and we must use it to reach our national goals,” said Bakr, a Kurd from Turkey’s Kurdish southeast.