Kurdistan

By: Peshawa Mohamed Ibrahim Mangury

Historic Ethnicities of KurdistanTHE CONTIGUOUS KURDISH REGIONS OF IRAN, IRAQ, TURKEY, AND SYRIA SIT IN THE NORTH CENTRAL AREA OF THE MIDDLE EAST. OVER THE MILLENNIA, NUMEROUS ETHNICITIES HAVE MIGRATED, SETTLED OR NATIVELY INHABITED THE AREA INCLUDING TURKS, PERSIANS, ARABS, KURDS, ARMENIANS, ASSYRIANS, CHECHENS, AZERIS AND OTHERS.FROM THE BEGINNING OF RECORDED HISTORY UNTIL THE PRESENT DAY, ALL OF THESE ETHNIC GROUPS HAVE STRIVED POLITICALLY AND VIOLENTLY BOTH OFFENSIVELY AND DEFENSIVELY FOR A SECURE HOMELAND. AS ONE OF THE CROSSROADS OF THE MIDDLE EAST, KURDISTAN HAS BEEN HOME TO BOTH ETHNIC BATTLEGROUNDS, AS WELL AS PEACEFUL ETHNIC COEXISTENCE.

Conquerors in the Kurdish Region

The Kurdish region has seen a long list of invaders and conquerors: Ancient Persians from the east, Alexander the Great from the west, Muslim Arabs in the 7th Century from the south, Seljuk Turks in the 11th Century from the east, the Mongols in the 13th Century from the east, medieval Persians from the east and the Ottoman Turks from the north in the 16th Century and most recently, the United States in its 2003 invasion of Iraq.

No Friends But The Mountains

Fortunately for the Kurds, they have been able to retreat into the mountains for sanctuary. This protection is what saved the Kurds from destruction and allowed them to survive as a distinct ethnic group. Their traditional nomadic lifestyle and the inhospitable mountain homeland provide a natural means to evade marauding armies that would subject indigenous people to rape, murder and genocide.

Because the Kurds have remained a separate ethnic group, they’ve always sought autonomy and independence. These aspirations have resulted in almost continuous conflict and a history of repression, resiliency and reinvention in the face of existential threats by the Turks, Arabs and Iranians and their forebears.

Where is Kurdistan? Kurdistan is not a

country, but the map of the Kurdish region includes the geographical region in the Middle East wherein the Kurdish people have historically established a prominent population and unified cultural identity.

A People Without A Home The Kurds, an ethnic group numbering

around 35 million people, is widely recognized to be the largest stateless national group in the world. While Kurdistan is known for its strong cultural unity, Kurdistan is home to numerous languages, religions and political factions.This melting pot of ethnicities, languages, religions and political factions is due to the large area that the Kurds inhabit.

The region is mountainous, and the borders that were drawn after WWI reflected divisions along these mountain lines. Unfortunately, the Kurds called these mountains home, and many Kurds were forced to relocate away from the borders.

Flag of Kurdistan The flag of Kurdistan is

used by Kurds as a symbol for the Kurds' desire for independence. The flag is banned in Iran, Syria and Turkey because of its association with Kurdish nationalism. It is the official flag of the autonomous Kurdistan Region in Iraq.

Meaning of colors

Red Symbolizes the blood of the martyrs and the continued struggle for freedom and dignity.Green Expresses the beauty and landscapes of Kurdistan. Life and vitality.Yellow Represents the source of life and light of the people. The sun is an ancient symbol and twenty one sunbeams represent March 21, Newroz.White Represent peace and equality.

Thank you for your attention