Who are the Kurds and where do they stand in the Middle East
Recent territorial losses by Kurdish forces in Syria have renewed attention on the Kurds, a people whose political aspirations have been shaped by a century of shifting borders and regional conflicts. Al-Monitor reports on January 22 via Reuters.
The Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the Middle East without a state of their own. Their modern political predicament dates back to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War One, when promises of independence were ultimately abandoned and Kurdish-inhabited areas were divided among newly formed states.
Kurdish nationalism emerged in the late 19th century, but early hopes for statehood faded after the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne replaced an earlier agreement that had envisaged Kurdish autonomy. The new borders left Kurdish communities spread across Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. Kurds share a language related to Persian and are predominantly Sunni Muslims, though their political movements vary widely by country.
Syria
Kurds make up around 10 percent of Syria’s population. Under the rule of former president Bashar al-Assad, many were denied citizenship and faced restrictions on language and political activity.
As Syria’s civil war erupted in 2011, Kurdish groups filled the vacuum in the north, establishing self-rule in Kurdish-majority areas. Their influence expanded as Kurdish fighters, operating under the Syrian Democratic Forces, partnered with the United States against the Islamic State group.
Following Assad’s removal in 2024, Kurdish leaders have sought to preserve autonomy while navigating a new political order in Damascus. Although Syria’s current leadership has taken symbolic steps, including recognising Kurdish as a national language, government advances this year have forced Kurdish forces to retreat to core areas.
Turkey
Kurds account for roughly one fifth of Turkey’s population, concentrated mainly in the southeast. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, launched an insurgency in 1984, initially seeking independence before later calling for autonomy and expanded rights. The conflict has claimed more than 40,000 lives.
PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan has been imprisoned since 1999. A renewed peace initiative began in early 2025 but has since stalled. Turkey considers Kurdish armed groups in Syria to be linked to the PKK and has repeatedly conducted cross-border operations in both Syria and Iraq.
Iraq
Kurds make up an estimated 15 to 20 percent of Iraq’s population and dominate the autonomous Kurdistan Region in the north. After decades of repression under Saddam Hussein, Iraqi Kurds gained de facto self-rule following the 1991 Gulf War.
Since 2003, Iraq’s constitution has formally recognised Kurdish autonomy. Relations with Baghdad have fluctuated, particularly after a 2017 independence referendum backfired, prompting the central government to reassert control over disputed territories including Kirkuk, while there is still conflict in the area.
Iran
Kurds represent about 10 percent of Iran’s population. Rights groups say Kurdish regions face discrimination, a charge denied by Tehran. Several Kurdish opposition groups operate from bases in Iraqi Kurdistan, creating friction between Iran and Iraq.
Kurdish areas have repeatedly been flashpoints during Iranian protests, including unrest in late 2025 and early 2026 and earlier demonstrations in 2022 following the death of a Kurdish woman in custody.
Al-Monitor via Reuters, Maghrebi.org
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