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The Kurds. Celeste, Miranda, Natty. The Kurds. 26 million population. The largest ethnic group in the middle east without a permanent government Ancient people with reputation for military tradition No nation of their own because of hostile rivalries and government. Kurds cont.
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The Kurds Celeste, Miranda, Natty
The Kurds • 26 million population. The largest ethnic group in the middle east without a permanent government • Ancient people with reputation for military tradition • No nation of their own because of hostile rivalries and government
Kurds cont. • 1991/Iraqi Kurds revolt against Saddam Hussein • Iraqi troops drove thousands of Kurdish rebels and civilians to borders of Iraq and Turkey • Many refugees died from starvation and exposure to freezing mountains • U.S. provided relief by giving supplies • Northern Iraq is where four to five million control territory
Election • May 1992 • 105- seat assembly • Armed guerrillas left positions to vote • Tribal chiefs and Muslim Sheiks held power • Kurds loyalty divided
KDP • Kurdistan Democratic Party • Largest and oldest • Appeals to mountain Kurds • Founded in 1945 in Iran • Under control of Barzani family
Other Kurdish Political Parties • PUK • Patriotic Union of Kurdistan • Jalal Talabani and Ibrahim Ahmad • Supported by Iran • Nationalists • Kurdish Communist Party • Islamic Movement of Kurdistan • Iraq should become Islamic state
PKK • Kurdistan Worker’s Party • Marxist group • Demands self rule and basic rights • Under Turkish Law • Kurds must go to Turkish language school • They are discouraged from speaking Kurdish
Turkey’s Promise • Turkey and Iraq Kurdish groups have good relations. • Turkey’s Promise • Stop PKK from using Iraq as an attack base. • Turks aid Iraq • 1998- Kurds sign peace agreement in Washington D.C. • Drive PKK guerrillas out of controlled areas
Current Events • 2003 U.S. leads invasion of Iraq. • Overthrow of Saddam Hussein's gov • Encouraged Iraq Kurds to demand self gov • 2004 Interim constitution • Gave the Kurds their own flag • Signed by Iraq gov. council • Gave three Kurdish provinces veto power • Gave veto power over approval of a permanent constitution • 2005 • Jalal Talabani elected president of Iraq