The Kurdish ConflictBleu Jackson, Sam Brooks, Tiara Hughes,

Micheal Hanna

Kurdish Timeline 7th century- The Kurds conquered by the Arabs, centuries of living under the

rule of others. 1923- Turkey no longer obligated to grant Kurdish autonomy. The Treaty of Lausanne divides the Kurdish region

among Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. 1925- A Kurdish uprising against the

new Turkish Republic is suppressed.

Timeline (cont.) 1946- The Kurdistan Democratic Party

(KDP) founded by Iraqi Kurd Mustafa Barzani, dedicated to the creation of

independent Kurdistan. 1961- Kurds of northern Iraq revolt against

the government of Abdul Karim Kassim, continue fighting for decades.

1970- Peace agreement signed between the Iraqi government and Kurds of northern

Iraq, allowing the Kurds some control.

Timeline (cont.) 1974- KDP attacks Iraqi troops after government refuses to give control of oil-rich province of Kirkuk, traditional Kurdish

territory. 1978- In Turkey, Abdullah Ocalan helps create Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK to

seek Kurdish independence. 1979- Iran’s Islamic revolution sparks

Kurdish revolt in Iran that is quickly abolished by Iran.

Timeline (cont.) 1984- Thousands of Kurds in southeast

Turkey join revolt, nationalism and dissatisfaction with living conditions.

1988- Iraq retaliates against Kurds for supporting Iran during Iran-Iraq war

and through “al-Anfal” (“spoils of war”) campaign, slaughters thousands of civilians, takes 1.5 million from their

homes. Thousands flee to Turkey.

Timeline (cont.) 1991- Iraq’s Kurds rise up against Saddam Hussein, encouraged by the

United States. Iraqi Kurds now control a 15,000-square-mile autonomous region in northern Iraq populated by 3 million

Kurds. 1991- Kurdish remains illegal in

schools, political setting and broadcasts.

Timeline (cont.) 1993- Turkish government grants limited

autonomy to Kurds, Kurdish political parties continue to be banned.

1998- PUK’s Talabani and the KDP’s Barzani sign peace agreement, ending four-year war

between rival Iraqi-Kurd factions. 1999- Abdulla Ocalan captured, convicted of

treason and separatism, and sentenced to death. Immediately spurs rash of bombings,

other terrorist attacks both in Turkey and abroad.

Timeline (cont.) 2002- Iraqi Kurdish regional parliament

meets for first time in six years, real sign of unity between Iraqi-Kurdish

factions since four-year (1994-1998) war.

2003- Kurds join U.S. and British forces in defeating Saddam Hussein’s regime.

Location The Kurd’s struggle for a homeland has

been in the recent news. Originally were pastoralists, nomads living in the mountains of modern-day

Kurdistan. Kurds at one point were Karduchi, an

ancient mountainous people.

The Kurdish Rebellions Led by Mullah Mustafa al-Barzani, the

Kurds revolt against parts of Iraq, Iran, and Turkey.

This causes years of attempting to create an autonomous Kurdish state. Leads to the creation of a Kurdish

nation in northern Iraq and the destruction of the Iraqi regime of

Premier Abdul Karim Kassim.

Mustafa Barzani

Kurdish Flag

There are over 25 million Kurds in the world, all without a state to call their own.

A Kurdish Cartoon

MythologicalLions, like this one in northern Kurdistan, have been thought of as a central piece in the Kurdish mythology.

Map of Kurdistan

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http://www.jawadmella.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/contemporarykurdistanmap2005.jpg