Kurdishaspect.com - By Ruwayda Mustafah Rabar
A British Kurd's reflection – Why should Kurds be any different? Can we name one society that is free from corruption, or any governmental system that does not have a deficit? How many decades did it take the western nations to grant women equal rights, and to have “the rule of law” implemented. While we continuously criticize the Kurdish achievement in a relatively short period of time, we would be ignorant, nay fools if we did not acknowledge the achievements, and changes implemented within the Kurdish society. So, why should we Kurds be any different? We are and will be different because countless men and women fought for the freedom of Kurds. They fought for us, and we can't afford to forget their sacrifices because their sacrifices are part of our collective history, and heritage. This gives us sufficient grounds to disregard the justification politicians have perpetuated when failing to stand up for the promises they made.
Prior to the Bath regime British Kurds were enthusiastic, and persistent in furthering the Kurdish struggle of liberation, and recognition from western countries, but we did not do so to end up watching the Kurdish society sink lower politically. A common enemy was Saddam Hussein to the Kurds, he brutally murdered Muslim Kurds of Halabja, and suppressed movements within the Kurdish regions, but at the time the two major political parties were not united. The lack of unity intensified the effect of the suppression received from Saddam Hussein's political aims. Who is the common enemy today? We have no clear name, but we have a concept – injustice.
British Kurds felt betrayed when the government eased up on policies that we believed in firmly – Kirkuk. Kirkuk was originally a Kurdish city, and should be under Kurdish jurisdiction. The Arabs increasingly immigrated to Kirkuk under the Bath regime. Kirkuk's oil prospect intensified the tension between the Arabs and Kurds in Kirkuk. Why? Because of the oil. Who would care about Kirkuk if not because of it's oil prospect? That even includes Kurds, but now we have two reasons (A) It was/is Kurdish land (B) It has a prosperous prospect.
There are several issues which we fought for in the west, and believed in strongly. Whenever there were protests, or meetings and conferences, there would be dozens of Kurds present to show their support and convey their opinions. Unfortunately, the turn-out of public conferences are increasingly low because some realised that it wasn't worth it. 10 years of public conferences, protests and hard work achieved absolutely nothing on major issues such as, new consensual body count of Kurds, single governing administration, Kurdish army, recognition of Shaheeds throughout the Kurdish regions, marking Kurdish boarders for distinction, among many other issues which seem to be overlooked.
The solution is simple. In a short period of time the Kurds have radically changed the education system, governmental system, social structure, and improved the status of women within society. This illustrates that change is not impossible and within the Kurdish grasp, but it can only be possible when Kurds sincerely work towards the establishment of a better government that is representative of the wishes of the public, and a better cohesive society that runs on principles such as justice. In the absence of which, we will continue to suffer.
Ruwayda Mustafah Rabar is a second year Law student at Kingston University, having written several articles about gender and Islam, and travelled eastern countries throughout her youth, she has an interest for comparative religion, culture, and effects of globalisation. She blogs on www.ruwaydamustafah.com.
