They have not been, why are the Kurds pushed back here and there?

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Most Kurds adhere to the teachings of Sunni Islam. Many of them practice Sufism and other mystical teachings.

The Kurds had become leaders in several dynasties, most notably Hasanwayhid, Annazid and Ayyubide. Even so, the Kurds have never gained state status in the modern era.

[Gambas:Video CNN]

Indeed, Kurdish communities intersect with the governments of Turkey, Iraq and Iran. However, the governments of these three countries do not have good relations with the Kurds.

So what makes the Kurds appear “rejected” in these three countries?

Turkey’s treatment of the Kurds

Kurds in Turkey are receiving nasty treatment from the country, where the Turkish government is trying to erase their Kurdish identity. Ankara also refers to the Kurds as “mountain Turks” and prohibits the use of the Turkish language.

Not only that, Turkey bans the Kurds from wearing their distinctive clothes. As reported CFRthe Kurds make up a fifth of the Turkish population.

On the other hand, the insurgent group of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has emerged against the Turkish government. The PKK aims to establish a Kurdish state and counter the cultural pressures and political rights exercised by Ankara.

As a result of this conflict, nearly 40,000 people have died.

The emergence of the Kurdish insurgency in Turkey is one of the reasons why Ankara has not responded well to this group.

Read on on the next page …