Kurds are the fourth largest ethnic group in West Asia, by Arabs, Turks and Persians. Their number is usually estimated at upwards of 35 million, but the figure is very uncertain. Often the term "Kurd" a matter of definition. . The Kurds have never had their own state.

Kurds
Kurds are the fourth largest ethnic group in West Asia, by Arabs, Turks and Persians. Their number is usually estimated at upwards of 35 million, but the figure is very uncertain. Often the term "Kurd" a matter of definition. . The Kurds have never had their own state.



Most Kurds have their roots in the border area between Turkey, Iraq and Iran. None of these states want to abandon any part of its territory, but in Iraq Kurds have a far-reaching autonomy.

In 2014, increased the risk that the country would fall apart, which aroused thoughts of a Kurdish declaration of independence. The possibility that Iraq could collapse as the government is creating concern in the outside world, and under pressure from the Islamic extremist movement, the Islamic state has the Baghdad government and the Kurds, at least temporarily teamed.

During the civil war in Syria since 2011, the Kurdish movement sought to exploit the country's collapse to take control of large areas in the north and northeast, along the border with Turkey. But even in Syria, the Islamic State, who recognize no worldly borders, set the Kurds under pressure.

A Kurdish state is hardly the highest goal for all Kurds. Turkey's Kurds have not voted "ethnic" in the last elections, and most take away from the banned Kurdish party the PKK's violent. But the Turkish government's repressive policies have still got many Kurds feel some sympathy for the PKK.

The PKK has officially given up the idea of ​​the independent (communist) state man fought for in the Civil War from 1984 to 1999. After a very bloody 2012 suddenly the new hope of peace at the end of the year since it became known that the Turkish state and the PKK started to negotiate. Since then there has been a slow peace process, and Parliament has adopted a series of laws strengthening the rights of Kurds. But the process is slow and Kurds earlier enthusiasm has begun to cool.