The Kurdish experience in the 20th century is similar to the Native American experience in the 17th-20th century. Like the Europeans in America, the Turks are the dominate group in Turkey and control virtually all aspects of government. The Turks used forced assimilation much like the Europeans. The Turks prohibited any kind promotion of the Kurdish culture. The government outlawed the Kurdish language, forcing Kurds to speak the Turkish language. Kurds could not express their culture in any way. They could not write anything to promote their culture or write anything negative of the Turks. The Turks just wanted to make them go away. At least the Turks were not as brutal towards the Kurds as the Europeans were to the Native Americans in earlier US history. Europeans killed millions of American Indians. The Turks turned more too forced assimilation instead of genocide like the Europeans. However the Europeans later also implemented forced assimilation against the American Indians much like the Turkish government did against the Kurds. (Assessment)
The Turks have been forcing assimilation since the 1920's. For example in many schools archways have writings that read “How happy is he who says he is a Turk.” (Pope 251) Up until very recent history, the Government did not even recognize the name Kurd, finally in 1991 the government identified them but in a disrespectful way calling them ‘Mountain Turks.’ Some thought this was disrespectful because they did not identify them as Kurds but called them Turks. Others thought at least the Turkish government finally recognized that 'Mountain Turks’ are a different group and was grateful they were identified at all. Since the Kurds were never identified before this was a step in the right direction even if some preferred their ancient name.
With the help of the government it is very easy for a Kurd to assimilate into the mainstream society in Turkey. Much like the Italians in America, the Kurds look very similar to the dominate group. Also, virtually all Kurds have the same religion as the dominate group, Sunni Muslim. Many have migrated to the western region of the country to live in an urban setting. They are very upwardly mobile once they settle in this area. Since the Kurds are forced to learn the Turkish language, similar to the American Indians, it makes it even easier to assimilate. The biggest challenge, like many European immigrants to America, is the lack of capital once they arrive. The Kurds are very poor and have few assets to get started in the city. "Once they renounce all forms of their culture" they are able to integrate into virtually any part of society as long as they do not identify themselves as a Kurd. (Assessment) This is possible since there is little to no difference in appearance to the dominate group and they practice the same religion. For many Kurds it only takes a change in mind to become a Turk. Much like many European immigrants to the United States, the Kurds that emigrate to the west are mostly young males.
After 50 years of oppression and forced assimilation a few Kurds turned to violence. This violence was headed by one person and probably happened at this time solely because he had the assets and influence to do so. In 1984 Abdullah Ocalan formed and headed the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) recently called People's Congress of Kurdistan, they are a Marxist-leaning guerrilla movement that has fought the Turkish forces to receive independence. (World) They have killed over 30,000 Turks since 1984, making them the number one terrorist group in the world. The PKK has bombed schools and hospitals, slaughtered small villages, and has kidnapped foreigners. Between 1988 and 1998 they committed 3,575 attacks virtually all against the Turks (Omestad).
Turks in response burned thousands of villages, displacing millions of Kurds. The government perceives the PKK as if it is the only representative of the Kurds. In reality only 2% of the Kurds support the PKK. (Pope 251) In 1991, after searching asylum in many countries, Abdullah Ocalan was arrested in Kenya. Once in prison he pleaded to his remaining factions to stop their attacks on the Turkish government and for this he was not executed but was sentenced to life in prison. The PKK stopped almost all efforts and in 2000 the PKK officially announced the end of their struggle for independence through terrorism. (Harmon 109)
In the last 4 years, amazing progress has been made for the Kurds in Turkey. The driving force behind the new civil rights is the European Union. Turkey would like to join the European Union to help their overall standard of living. The biggest reason they have not been admitted in is because the EU recognizes the humanitarian problems. The government has been making long fast strides to show the EU they are a humanitarian country. (Sacks) Also, another reason is because the PKK is no longer a physical threat. Recently the Turkish parliament has passed many laws to stop the Kurdish oppression, discrimination and more notably the end of forced assimilation. Kurdish parents are now allowed to name their children with Kurdish names. In some areas the once outlawed language is now used in public schools, similar to the Native American experience. The Kurds are now even allowed to broadcast their own television station. Almost all of this is credited to the Turkish government interest in joining the European Union. (Filkins)
The Kurds of Turkey have been oppressed, discriminated against and forced into assimilation by the Turks for most of the last century. This group has a history of conflict much like the American Indians. The Turkish Government has always promoted a united Turkey. Unfortunately they did this through forced assimilation, instead of living together in peace through the acceptance of diversity, the government pushed for one group, the Turks, for one country. This gave to the popular phrase “Turks for Turkey.” Also, much like the American Indians, the recent status of the Kurds is comparable. They both are at or near the bottom of the socio-economic spectrum. Although, this maybe attributed to the lifestyle and culture of the Kurds, which does not promote the same goals as the Turks. The Kurdish culture emphasis on a rich tradition of a mountainous life that does not promote materialistic goals. The Kurds are upwardly mobile once they move to the more industrialized west, but since there is little desire among many to do so they will probably remain poor since there is no industry in the Kurdish mountains as of now. Despite the Kurds socio-economic status, the future of the Kurds is brighter than ever mainly because of the European Union. Since Turkey would like to enter the EU they must make long strides to stop all legal discrimination against the Kurds if they want to become a member. Although the Kurds are nearing a pluralistic social system many are still not satisfied. Many Kurds would still like a Kurdish state that would stretch over five countries. However, with much recent progress, there is less of a reason to strive for a Kurdish state in Turkey. For now the Kurds will live as a stateless nation, but at least the conditions are improving for the Kurdish people of Turkey.
Works Cited
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Filkins, Dexter. “Kurds are Finally Heard:Turkey Burned Our Villages.” The New York Times. October 24, 2003: Available at Lansing Community Coll. Library, Lansing. 2 March 2005 <http://www.lcc.edu/library.com>.
Harmon, Daniel. Turkey. Broomall, PA: Mason Crest Publishers, 2004.
“Ocalan, Turkey and the Kurds.” Time Magazine. 1999. Available at Lansing Community Coll. Library, Lansing. 2 March 2005.
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Omestad, Kaplan, Lovgren “The Joy of the Turks, the fury of the Kurds.” U.S. News & World Report. March 1, 1999. Available at Lansing Community Coll. Library, Lansing. 24 March 2003 <http://www.lcc.edu/library.com>.
Pope, Nicole and Hugh. Turkey Unveiled. Woodstock, New York: The overlook Press, 1998.
Saches, Susan. “European Envoy Visiting Turkey to Assess Situation of Kurds.”
The New York Times. September 7, 2004: Available at Lansing Community Coll. Library, Lansing. 2 March 2005 <http://www.lcc.edu/library.com>.
“Who are the Kurds? Centuries of oppression have made them a people prepared to die for nationhood.” Time Magazine. April 15, 1991. Available at Lansing Community Coll. Library, Lansing. 2 March 2005. <http://www.lcc.edu/library.com>.
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