Kurds and the Israel-Iran clash: New openings or old dangers?

A sad common denominator across all the states ruling over the Kurds—from Iraq and Iran to Turkey and Syria—as well as among many intellectual and media elites of the dominant ethnic and religious groups monopolizing power in those states, is the relentless fear mongering against Kurds. Instead of engaging in such behavior and tossing out accusations of separatism and partition, these actors ought to look in the mirror. They should ask themselves what they continue to do wrong that might push Kurds to consider seeking external alliances or to seize on shifting regional dynamics created by war to challenge a repressive and exclusionary status quo.

Mohammed A. Salih

Opinion

GeoSpace Ep.6 with Sirwan Kajjo: Kurds between promise and peril in the new Syria

On GeoSpace, researcher Sirwan Kajjo highlighted the long history of Kurdish repression in Assad's Syria, and warned that despite Assad’s fall, deep rifts with Syria’s new rulers may block hopes for a decentralized, inclusive future

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A new era in US-Kurdish relations?

This commercial-centric worldview allows Kurdistan to be appreciated for what it has, not just whom it fights. It creates a broader foundation for bilateral relations that could prove more durable and impactful than past cooperation tied narrowly to security crises

Mohammed A. Salih

Opinion

Gold mines in Iran’s Kurdish regions: Between riches and sorrows

The gold-rich Kurdish regions of western Iran grapple with the serious environmental and health consequences arising from mining the precious commodity, launching a campaign to stop the drilling which has seen elevated instances of cancer and the destruction of local flora and fauna.

Features

Turkey-PKK peace process: Its influence on Iranian Kurds

In light of the historic Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) decision to end its armed campaign against the Turkish state, Kurds in Iran seek to ascertain the peace process' implications for their own situation within a country that has long denied them any degree of autonomy.

Features

The historical end of PKK’s armed struggle against Turkey; what is next?

The PKK has announced its disbandment, ending decades of armed struggle against Turkey. The move, driven by military setbacks and calls for democracy, opens a chance for peace—but risks remain if Turkey fails to enact meaningful reforms and address Kurdish rights

Hassan Ahmad Mustafa

Opinion

Kurdish authorities in Syria hold Damascus responsible for sectarian violence

The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) has expressed its condemnation for the ongoing sectarian violence in Damascus, vehemently stating that it holds the new Syrian administration responsible for the worsening situation. The clashes reflect a nightmare scenario for Kurds and other minorities in Syria, who have long feared Sunni Arab domination by the new government.

News

The Syria of Sharaa and the Syria of Kurds and minorities

In the wake of a historic conference that saw Syria's most prominent Kurdish blocs gather to assert common demands for minority rights in the new Syria, their vision of a "multi-ethnic, multicultural, multi-religious" state faces challenges under the leadership of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Mohammed A. Salih

Opinion

Kurds demand ‘decentralized’ Syria, increased recognition in Unity Conference

Saturday's Kurdish Unity Conference saw high-profile Kurdish leaders come together to discuss a series of demands for the Damascus administration relating to the rights of Kurds in Syria, urging a strong degree of decentralization and autonomy for the country's myriad minority groups.

News