For one they were a larger percentage of the population, iraqs identity was more contested than the other two nations, and the kurds were given the opportunity to negotiate their status. Kevin mckiernan has reported on the kurds of iraq, iran, turkey, and syria since 1991, but he began his career as a journalist in the 1970s covering armed confrontations by native americans. Full kurdish books for download english books about kurds. Anfal, meaning the spoils, is the name of the eighth sura of the koran. New perspectives on writing the history of the kurds in iraq, syria and turkey.
Dec 26, 2019 nashville kurds launch a kurdishlanguage book drive donated books will be added to the collection of the nashville public librarys southeast branch erica ciccarone. The plundering of iraqs oil wealth, which will be published on january 30 by columbia global reports. Provides unique insights into their farming methods, the position of women, journalism, telecommunications, life in the villages, leisure and, not least, the magnificent archeological treasures to be found there. A remarkable story of hope reborn in northern iraq.
A page about the photobook the kurds of iraq by michiel hegener for more. Professor michael gunter of tennessee tech university is a leading kurdish scholar. The kurds plight most recently captured the worlds attention in 1991 following the end of the gulf war. Stephen mansfield goes against this grain in his book, the miracle of the kurds. Nashville kurds launch a kurdishlanguage book drive. The remarkable story of hope reborn in northern iraq 9781617950797 by stephen mansfield. No doubt there must be subtle consequences of this perception, but they are yet to be articulated. The past and the present of book publishing in kurdish language in syria. The river drains the combined waters of the euphrates and tigris rivers of iraq, and the karun river of iran. Kurds also have a presence in kirkuk, mosul, khanaqin, and baghdad. The relationship between the kurds and baghdad is not only critical to iraqs stability, it is vital to the very survival of the iraq state. Pdf the kurds of iraq download full pdf book download. Nationalism and identity in iraqi kurdistan library of modern middle east studies aziz, mahir a. A book about the iraqi kurdistan region, governed by the highly autonomous kurdistan regional government.
This fact is acknowledged only rarely by commentators. This question has been key in states where kurds liveiraq, syria, and turkey, as well as iran, which was never part of the ottoman empire. Kurdistan is an invisible nation, and the kurds the largest ethnic group on earth without a homeland, comprising some 25 million moderate sunni muslims living in the area around the borders of turkey, iran, iraq, and syria. This book, written by a leading human rights defender, provides a comprehensive account of the key issues now facing the kurds, and the prospects for turkey joining the eu. The first notable, historical mention of the kurds is widely thought to be the sharafnama, or the book of honour, by the medieval kurdish poet sharaf aldin bitlisi in 1597. Kurds kurds, koords, a nonarab middle eastern minority population that inhabits the region known as kurdistan, an extensive plateau and mountain area, c. The kurds are denied many basic rights, including the right to learn or broadcast in their own language. The kurds are the largest ethnic minority in iraq, comprising between 15% and 20% of the countrys population according to the cia world factbook. The cia factbook estimates a kurdish population of 12 million in turkey, six million in iran, about five to six million in iraq, and less than two million in syria, which adds up to close to 28 million kurds in kurdistan. The book is unique in that it presents a sophisticated insight into the two major components of us iraq policy. I would reservedly recommend the book to those with a specific interest in the subject matter. Shining a light on how iraqi kurds used the aftermath of the 1991 kurdish uprising to hold elections and form a parliament, and on how kurdish. In addition to little known facts about kurdistan and those who live there, mansfield tells his personal story of interaction with many kurds both in the united states and in kurdistan.
Although kurds were not considered minorities in the postwar treaties, kurds have become minorities in the countries where they live. Nashville kurds launch a kurdishlanguage book drive donated books will be added to the collection of the nashville public librarys southeast branch erica ciccarone. Inside the unlikely, unofficial ties between israel and the kurds. List of books and articles about kurds online research. Stephen mansfield is a new york times bestselling author who first rose to global attention with his groundbreaking book, the faith of george w. The kurds of iraq have been making headlines for many decades.
Over ninety years since their absorption into the modern iraqi state, th. May 18, 2016 stephen mansfield is a new york times bestselling author who first rose to global attention with his groundbreaking book, the faith of george w. They speak an indoeuropean language, not a semitic language as do the arabs, or a turkic language. This important book offers an invaluable contribution to our understanding of. Over ninety years since their absorption into the modern iraqi state, the kurdish people of iraq still remain an apparent anomaly in the modern world a nation.
Jun 20, 2015 how the kurds are succeeding in iraq kurdish fighters have recaptured a strategic syrian city from the socalled islamic state. They make up the fourthlargest ethnic group in the middle east, but. Television around the world showed images of northern iraqs kurds fleeing saddam hussein. Iraqi kurds turn to zoroastrianism as faith, identity entwine. The best books on the kurds five books expert recommendations.
That is southeast turkey, northwest iran, northeast iraq, and northeast syria. Between 25 and 35 million kurds inhabit a mountainous region straddling the borders of turkey, iraq, syria, iran and armenia. Phillips has a poor understanding of present day iraq, and by the end of the book he has chapters that only marginally deal with the kurds and are more about the war in syria, and the failures of the obama and trump administrations to deal with that conflict. Routledge handbook on the kurds 1st edition michael m. Kurds are different from the arabs and turks in several respects. Tim niblock, professor in the institute of arab and islamic studies, university of exeter azizs work is the most reliable work on iraqi kurdish nationalism, nationbuilding and national identity available. A remarkable story of hope reborn in northern iraq mansfield, stephen on.
It should be required reading for policymakers and anyone interested in the current position of the kurds in iraq. And this paved the way for more stable and sustainable powersharing among sunnis, kurds and shiites in iraq. Apr 28, 2018 gunter writes that the kurds in iraq were in a different situation then their brethren in iran and turkey. Ofra bengio ofra bengio explores the dynamics of relations between the kurds of iraq and the iraqi state from the inception of the baath regime to the present. They are becoming increasingly important within regional and international geopolitics, particularly since the 2003 invasion of iraq, the arab spring and the war in syria. For those wishing to work with the kurds in iraq, the greater kurdistan region, or in the diaspora, reading this book is a must. This is the first book to be primarily directed at analyzing the evolving solution to the kurdish problem in iraq and turkey. Jan 01, 2014 stephen mansfield goes against this grain in his book, the miracle of the kurds. Bush, a bestseller that time magazine credited with.
Oct 22, 2019 and this paved the way for more stable and sustainable powersharing among sunnis, kurds and shiites in iraq. In modern times, kurds have tried to set up independent states in iran, iraq and turkey, but. Ofra bengio explores the dynamics of relations between the kurds of iraq and the iraqi state from the inception of the baath regime to the present. This research had been commissioned by the next page foundation and conducted by m. With an estimated population of over 30 million, the kurds are the largest stateless nation in the world. The book is a unique account of the problems that all political groups face in bringing stability to the country, as well as exploring kurdish links and international relations in the broader sense. Nationalism and identity in iraqi kurdistan library. In this book he has captured the agony and determination, the horror and the genius of one of the most remarkable stories of our time. To achieve this, it addresses us foreign policy towards both arab iraq and an entirely original analysis on us policy towards the iraqi kurds as components of a larger us iraq policy, dictated by the supreme us grand strategy. Oct 15, 2019 between 25 and 35 million kurds inhabit a mountainous region straddling the borders of turkey, iraq, syria, iran and armenia. Nprs scott simon talks to joshua landis at the university of. Darbandikhan iraq afp in a ceremony at an ancient, ruined temple in northern iraq, faiza fuad joined a growing number of kurds who are leaving islam to embrace the faith of their ancestors. Jerusalems connection with the stateless iraqi minority first began shortly after the outbreak of the kurdish rebellion in the autumn of 1961, apparently at israels initiative, with the aim of weakening baghdad, according to the book the kurds of iraq.
Kurds who got mixed persians, turks, arabs with intercourse got different type of a skin and eyes color. More commonly, the kurds are presented as being signi. Pdf click here to download in zip 250 kb the kurds history and culture by dr. The following is an edited excerpt from erin bancos book, pipe dreams.
How the kurds are succeeding in iraq kurdish fighters have recaptured a strategic syrian city from the socalled islamic state. The kurds have been subjugated by neighboring peoples for most of their history. Around 300,000 kurds live in the iraqi capital baghdad, 50,000 in the city of mosul and around 100,000 elsewhere in southern iraq. While most books about the kurds of iraq focus solely on military, political and humanitarian issues, this book provides unique insights into their farming methods, the position of women, journalism, telecommunications, life in the villages, leisure and, not least, the magnificent archaeological treasures to be found there. Kurds led by mustafa barzani were engaged in heavy fighting against successive iraqi regimes from 1960 to 1975. One of his first books on the subject was kurds of iraq, tragedy and hope published in 1992. Original pure kurd has a white skin, blueorblack eyes and fair hair. Its contributors cover social and political issues, legal questions, religion, language, and the modern history of kurds in turkey, iraq, iran, syria and the soviet union. A narrative account of the iraqi governments organized attempt to eradicate the kurds living in northern iraq, this report captures in riveting detail the multiple phases of the anfal campaign. Bengio draws on a wealth of rich source materials to carefully trace the evolution of kurdish national identity in iraq. There is a remarkable dearth of reliable and uptodate information about the kurds, which this book remedies.
News about the kurds iraqi kurdistan, including commentary and archival articles published in the new york times. The american invasion of iraq has been a success for the kurds. The kurds story the survival of saddam frontline pbs. The kurds are the original inhabitants of an area that is today divided by turkey, iran, iraq, and syria. The kurds of iraq, tragedy and hope 99 99 thought to be more sympathetic to talabani. Much of the sediment clouding the water in this image of the persian gulf is from the shatt al arab river, which enters the gulf in the north along the iran iraq border. Recent emigration has resulted in a kurdish diaspora of about 1.