Four States, One Strategy — Silence the Kurds

Kurdistan Was Never Divided as a Nation or a Cause

Hendrên Sheikh Ragheb | Exclusive to iKurd.net
Translated by iKurd.net from Kurdish Awene

My Friend, Don’t Go into That Tunnel!

Kurdistan is one piece of land. It has not been divided as land, as a nation, or in terms of its language, culture, and history. Rather, in terms of political geography, Kurdistan has been divided into four parts, with each part placed under a separate artificial political state. That is why we have always had one cause and one path.

Look at this: for twelve years, there has not been a single day when Turkey’s president, political factions, media, programs, security forces, military, writers, and journalists have not talked about Western Kurdistan. There has not been a day when Iran has not talked about the Kurds of Iraq or the Iranian Kurdish opposition.

A composite image showing Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, and Syrian Kurds celebrate the Kurdish New Year Newroz in Qamishlo city in Hasaka province in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) on March 20, 2020. Photo: iKurd.net/AFP

A spokesperson for Syria’s Foreign Ministry under the government of Ahmed al-Sharaa used to say: “Look at how we erased Syrian Kurdistan and did not allow it to remain. It is important that Iraq also follow our example, not allow Iraqi Kurdistan to exist, and take control of the northern part of the country!”

There is not a day when, at both the official and unofficial levels, all four states not only talk about the Kurds but also interfere in Kurdish affairs. For example, Erdoğan, the president of Turkey, has intervened and convinced the United States not to allow Eastern Kurdistan to become filled with weapons or to give them a role.

During the Kurdistan Region’s referendum, Turkey and Iran talked about the Kurdistan Region so much that Iraq itself did not give it even half as much attention. Iraq was willing to deal with the results of the referendum, but Turkey and Iran were the ones who refused to accept them.

Yet, on the other hand, there are many people who tell you: “What right do you have, from Southern Kurdistan, to interfere in Western Kurdistan?” Or, “If you are from Eastern Kurdistan, you should not speak about Southern Kurdistan,” or, “If you are from Northern Kurdistan, you should not speak about Eastern Kurdistan.” This is the strategy of the intelligence agencies of all four occupying states.

They want us to become four separate parts not only geographically and politically, but also as a nation, homeland, and cause. They want to reduce us from a nation to separate groups and a few tribes. I ask everyone, whether on the right or the left, even if you do not have information or sources, to talk about Western, Northern, and Eastern Kurdistan.

Even if all you do is share a picture of a leader, a city, or an activist from those parts of Kurdistan. Because they closely monitor and record these things. The occupiers want there to be no discussion, communication, awareness, information, solidarity, sympathy, criticism, or exchange of opinions among us about one another. Little by little, they want us to become strangers to one another.

That is exactly why, in this particular war being waged by intelligence agencies, we should continue talking about the different parts of Kurdistan.

If nothing else, share something positive about a leader, a song, a story, or an event, because even that serves the cause of our unity and our common cause.

But please eliminate insults, offensive language, accusations, and misleading news from Kurdish culture, so that, as Kurds, we can always have one culture, one sense of beauty, one body, and one cause.

Unfortunately, narrow partisan conflict in Southern Kurdistan is the greatest poisoned dagger against the development of national and Kurdish-national thinking. It is the greatest virus that has entered the spirit, feelings, and body of this nation.

Political parties are very important and are a means of struggle. We should have parties, engage in politics, and stay well informed. But this narrow-minded partisanship is a poisoned dagger in the body of our Kurdish identity. It turns us into several conflicting tribes who see each other as enemies, rather than one nation.

Please do not go into the tunnel of the internal war created by the intelligence agencies that oppose the Kurds. Instead, when it comes to our land and homeland, let us all speak together about our common cause.

Hendrên Sheikh Ragheb, a writer from Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan.

This article was originally published in the Kurdish language in Awene Newspaper on September 2, 2026.

The opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of iKurd.net or its editors.