Background

Since the beginning of the of the end of World War II and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the tension within the country of Turkey has continued to rise. It all leads to Turkey's largest non-Turkish ethnic group, the Kurds, who are concentrated primarily in the eleven provinces in the southeast of the nation with isolated Kurdish villages in other parts of Turkey. Kurds have been migrating to Istanbul for centuries, and since 1960 they have migrated to almost all other urban centers as well. About half of all Kurds worldwide live in Turkey while the remainder lives in adjacent regions of Iran, Iraq, and Syria. Estimates of the number of Kurds in Turkey ranged from 6 million to 12 million in 1995.

Because of the sheer size of the Kurdish population, the Kurds are perceived as the only minority that could pose a threat to the Turkish national unity. Indeed, there has been an active Kurdish Separatist movement in southeastern Turkey since 1984, and this has led many within the Turkish government to become worried. The Turkish government's main strategy for assimilating the Kurds has been language suppression. By doing this, the Turks have attempted to control the spread of the Separatist movement ideas. Yet, despite official attempts over several decades to spread Turkish influences among them, most Kurds have retained their native language.

The Kurds then formed an armed initiation of insurrection in 1984 which is called the Kurdistan Workers' Party. This created an increasing amount of international media to be placed on the Kurds of Iraq which in turned caused the Turkey's political elite to question the increasing number of Kurds. Up until 1991, the Kurdish people in general were denied their rights until one supported bill revoked the ban on the use of the Kurdish language and the possession of materials. By 1995 however, the Kurdish representation in government institutions such as the courts and schools was prohibited.

Although the Kurds comprise a distinct ethnic group, they are divided by class, regional, and secretarian differences similar to those affecting ethnic Turks. Religious divisions often have been a source of conflict among the Kurds. Although the government of Turkey does not collect official religious preferences, scholars estimate that at least two-thirds of the Kurds in Turkey nominally are Sunni Muslims, and that as many as one-third are Shia Muslims of the Alevi sect. Unlike the Sunni Turks, who follow the Hanafi School of Islamic law, the Sunni Kurds follow the Shafii branch. Like their Turkish counterparts, adult male Kurds with religious inclinations tend to join Sufi brotherhoods. The Naksibendi and Kadiri orders, both of which predate the republic, have large Kurdish followings in Turkey. The Nurcular, a brotherhood that came to prominence during the early republican years, also has many Kurdish adherents in Turkey, which like the other brotherhoods, creates additional problems within the Kurdish people and against the Turkish government.

Beginning of Conflict

According to an informative article posted on http://www.washingtonpost.com/, the Kurds are a group of Sunni Muslim people living throughout Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, and Syria. The article states, "The breakup of the Ottoman Empire after the war created a number of new-nation states, but not a separate Kurdistan." This meant the Kurdish people were forced to abandon their lifestyles and find new places to live. After several years, the Kurds began to consider creating their own nation; however, the Turkish government did not agree. "The Kurds received," according to the above article, "especially harsh treatment at the hands of the Turkish government, which tried to deprive them of Kurdish identity by designating them "Mountain Turks", outlawing their language and forbidding them to wear traditional Kurdish costumes in the cities."

There are several political parties associated with Kurdistan, which according to the article, do not always work together in harmony. The two parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan fought a war over Northern Iraq lasting four years, from 1994 to 1998. According to the article, "In September 1998, the two sides agreed to a power-sharing arrangement." In addition, there is another very popular political party, the PKK. This party, also known as the Kurdistan Workers Party, continually fights for Kurdish freedom. The article states, "The PKK believes any independent Kurdish state should be a homeland for all Kurds." In conclusion, the Kurdish people are constantly fighting for their own territory, or place to call their country, as well as freedom from Turkish persecution. However, this is not so simple as the Kurds are not all unified due to the split political parties.

Causes of the Conflict

According to http://www.flashpoints.info/, a site dedicated to the analyzing and descriptions of various world conflicts, the causes for the war between the Turks and Kurds is primarily based on geographical disputes stemming back to the end of the WWI. It was at this time that the established Kurdistan territories, then part of the Ottoman Empire, were redrawn, thus destroying any one area for the Kurdish people to call their own. However, these people have remained within the areas of Turkey, Iraq, and Iran because, quoting Stephen John Morgan's article "Behind the Turkey-Kurdish Conflict" at http://www.thecheers.org/, "They have survived because of their national pride and culture, which, despite differences in linguistic dialects, allow them to share a common language, folklore, music and festivals from their Arabic, Persian, and Turkish oppressors."

In addition to geographical disputes, the war can also be seen as a struggle for human rights. In reference to Morgan's article at http://thecheers.org/, the Kurds have faced oppression since the very beginning of the conflict, and until recently, have not been recognized as a separate people from the Turkish people themselves. This had led to the persecution of their political rights as Turkey doesn't wish to allow them a voice in the state, but also continues to refuse them a portion of territory to which they may govern themselves. This is a big reason why Kurds have been mistreated due to the fact that they are living in Turkey's area of land. However, these actions have also caused problems for Turkey, who would like to become part of the European Union but is disallowed due to the persecution of the Kurdish people within its borders.

Street Clashes in Turkey after Kurdish Party Banned

This video shows the violence continuing after the Kurdish party has been banned. They are fighting for their rights through aggression which creates aggression from the Turks as well.

Viewpoint of Kurds in Turkey

This excerpt of a documentary offers a viewpoint from the Kurds being persecuted by the Turkish military and government. It offers more of an emotional standpoint on the War. The interviews with the people are focused on personal stories, but the overall theme is revealed, and viewers are able to get a better grasp on why this war is important.

Kurdish Protesters Clash with Police in Turkey

Kurdish Protesters Riot in Southeastern Turkey

Following the Deaths of Nine Kurdish Guerilla Fighters Earlier This Week

This video, provided by ITN, an international news website, portrays Kurdish rioters fighting with police in the streets of the Turkish province of Van. The riot was sparked after a meeting of the Kurdish Peace and Democratic Party condemned the deaths of the nine guerilla fighters earlier this week, Monday, September 6, 2010. The deaths came after a skirmish broke out between the Turkish security forces and the Kurdish guerillas, despite the PKK agreeing to a ceasefire in August. This recent conflict between Kurds and Turkish forces has reinforced the reality of tension within the state of Turkey and among the Kurdish people.

Full article here: http://itn.co.uk/72ca6eb706d5052ed068c063cb4a0cdc.html

Turkey/Kurd background

Background: According to http://www.flashpoints.info/, a website focusing on conflicts around the world, The Kurdish/ Turkey conflict is based on the fact that during World War 1, the Ottoman Empire was divided into several countries, and one of these countries became known as Kurdistan. After the War, this country was not able to remain a country. However, people from Turkey, Iraq, and some other surrounding countries resided here at the time, and have since wanted to keep their nationality. Since then, the country of Turkey has wanted to separate from the Kurds.

Uprising of the Conflict: In 1990, towards the end of the Cold War, a Kurdish Separatist Movement was started, which became the first unified attempt to separate these people. This eventually led to the first violent outbreak in 1992, where the Kurdish Workers Party (PPK) announced a war government which would attempt to regain their former territories and obtain political rights. From that point and up until now, the contrasting conflict between Turkey and the Kurdish people has been mutual.

Causes of the Conflict: According to http://www.flashpoints.info/ the war is primarily based on geographical disputes stemming back to the end of WWI. It was at this time that the established Kurdistan territories were redrawn, thus destroying any one area for the Kurds to call their own. However, these people have yet remained with the areas of Turkey, Iraq, and Iran because, quoting Stephen John Morgan's article, "Behind the Turkey-Kurdish Conflict" at http://www.thecheers.org/ ,"they have survived because of their national pride and culture, which, despite differences in linguistic dialects, allow them to share a common language, folklore, music and festivals from their Arabic, Persian, and Turkish oppressors."

As well as geographical disputes, the war can also be seen as a struggle for human rights. By http://www.thecheers.org/ the Kurds have faced oppression since the very beginning of the conflict, and until recently, have not been recognized as a separate people from the Turkish people themselves. This had led to the persecution of their political rights, as Turkey doesn't wish to allow them a voice in the state, but also refuses them a portion of territory to which they may govern themselves. This is a big reason why Kurds have been mistreated due to the fact that they are living in Turkey's area of land. However, these actions, have also has caused problems for the Turks, who would like to become part of the European Union, but is disallowed due to the persecution of the Kurdish people within its borders.

Groups Involved: There are several political parties involved. The PKK (The Kurdish Workers Party) is the main rebel group. The PKE is similar to the PKK, but is made up of different types of people, and tends to be the more peaceful side of the party.