The Tragedy of Kurds Becoming Stateless Seyhan Uludag
Türkçe
The Tragedy of the Kurds' Statelessness: Capitalism, Fascism and Cultural Destruction Seyhan Uludag The ruthless order of the capitalist world constantly violates the right of peoples to self-determination. Kurds, with a population of approximately 40 million, are the largest stateless nation in the world. Scattered between the borders of Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria, Kurds have struggled throughout history to establish their own state. However, these efforts have been constantly hampered by the interests of imperialist powers, the oppression of national states and the economic hegemony of the capitalist order. The nature of capitalism is based on protecting the borders of national states and maximising their economic interests. The geography where the Kurds live, with its rich natural resources, whets the appetite of imperialist powers. Oil, natural gas and water resources increase the strategic importance of these regions and the control of these resources promises great profit for capitalist states and international companies. These economic interests create fierce resistance to Kurdish demands for independence, and national states constantly violate Kurdish rights in order to keep these resources in their hands. This ruthless face of the capitalist order makes Kurdish self-determination impossible. The Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Treaty of Lausanne after the First World War destroyed the Kurds' hopes for statehood. By placing Kurdish territories under the sovereignty of four different countries, these agreements fragmented Kurdish national unity. This situation weakened the Kurds' struggle for political organisation and the protection of their national identity. These borders, which serve the interests of the imperialist powers, have constantly prevented the Kurdish people's right to self-determination. The divide and rule policy of the capitalist system stands as a major obstacle to the Kurdish struggle for independence. Fascist regimes and repressive policies in the countries where Kurds live systematically work to destroy the national identity and culture of the Kurdish people. Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria are implementing heavy assimilation policies to suppress Kurdish identity and culture. Speaking Kurdish, defending Kurdish culture and expressing Kurdish identity are prohibited or criminalised in these countries. In Turkey, military operations and cultural assimilation policies have been intensified in Kurdish-inhabited areas. Similarly, Iran, Iraq and Syria have pursued repressive policies to destroy Kurdish identity. This brutal face of fascism suppresses the Kurdish people's struggle for freedom and seeks to destroy their national identity. Another destructive effect of the capitalist order is the danger of cultural assimilation and the extinction of languages. Although Kurdish is a rich language with different dialects, it is in danger of extinction due to oppression and assimilation policies. The ban on the use of Kurdish in the public sphere, its exclusion from education systems and restrictions on the media accelerate the process of language and culture extinction. Language is the most important carrier of a people's identity and culture. The disappearance of the Kurdish language means the disappearance of the national identity and cultural existence of the Kurdish people. The cultural assimilation policies imposed by the capitalist order work ruthlessly to destroy the language and culture of the Kurdish people. The reasons for the Kurds' inability to establish a state are based on multidimensional and complex factors such as the interests of imperialist powers, the economic hegemony of the capitalist order, the repressive policies of fascist regimes and cultural assimilation. However, the Kurdish people continue their struggle despite these difficulties. Kurds resist to preserve their national identity and cultural existence. This struggle is a beacon of hope not only for Kurds but for all oppressed peoples. The right of peoples to self-determination is a universal right that must be defended against the oppression of the capitalist order and the brutal face of fascism. The rights and cultural assets of the Kurdish people must be protected with international solidarity and co-operation against the destructive effects of the capitalist system. The Kurdish struggle for freedom is part of the struggle for human rights and democracy. This struggle must be strengthened by a resistance against the games of the imperialist powers, the economic interests of the capitalist order and the oppressive policies of fascism. The international community has a responsibility to recognise the rights of the Kurds and support their struggle for independence. This responsibility must be fulfilled not only for the Kurds, but for the whole world in order to establish a more just and egalitarian order.
