Hopelessness of Kurds

Rauf Naqishbendi | Exclusive to iKurd.net

The current political, social and economic affairs in Iraqi Kurdistan is sad state of mind due to the corrupted Talabani and Barzani’s tribes as they monopolized the power as despotic kings. Envisioning the future of Kurdistan, there is not an array of hope in heaven and earth for Barzani and Talabani has rooted out people’s hopes not only through their looting national resource; but furthermore corrupting people’s ethics to the point of lack of individual’s responsibility to public good as lust for power and insatiable greed has been prevalent; with that the sense of national pride, and old belief in sanctity of land and people are gone with the wind.

Massoud Barzani with his elder son Masrour Barzani — Massoud Barzani (R) with his son Masrour, Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, May 2023. Photo: Barzani’s Press Office/via iKurd.net

In a world when national pride is void, people’s ethics are corrupted, leaders out for themselves rather than for the public good, and prevalence of greed and lust for power, thus creating a society where people are detached to their homeland as witnessed how so many people are liquidating their possessions aiming at fleeing the country; and seek refuge abroad.

When any nation’s authority becomes an instrument of foreign powers, that nation is doomed for the wellbeing of their citizens and their national interest is compromised “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other(Matthew 6:24-26). That is the case as Kurdish current authorities have a history of being agents of Kurdish enemies, transgressing just laws as well as natural laws against the people of Kurdistan.

Let us dissect the state of economy, at present people are suffering financially due to high inflation, during this global inflationary phenomenon many nations adapted economic stimulus, and other governments embarked on measures to ease citizen’s financial burdens. In Kurdistan, the price of goods and services are skyrocketing, with no relief from the government even with fuel and gas prices having peaked and authorities’ revenue ballooned. While Kurdistan is an oil and natural gas exporter, the price of gasoline, natural gas and utility bills are inflated. People are dismayed with extortionate utility bills and with no relief from the government. Moreover, high unemployment in the absence of industries and innovations resulting in burdensome financial conditions.

Lack of opportunities due to high unemployment and other social issues, has emboldened people to flee the country to find refuge abroad, knowing of dire consequences of their journey that they may not get to their targeted destination alive, as witnessed by the horror stories of migrants sinking in the ocean, yet they are gambling with their lives with their eyes on a prize, meaning should they succeed in their endeavor no matter where they land will be better than their homeland they abandoned.

The sense of Kurdish patriotism, path to Kurdish independence, is fading away replaced by greed, nepotism, tribal fighting. As we observe the rise of tyranny and self -assertion suffocating the voice of freedom and right to self -expressions, and demonizing, jailing and killing their oppositions. The leaders meant to shepherd the nation, but Kurdish leaders are comingled with wolves and leaving their people at the mercy of their predators(occupiers).

The self-imposed leaders Barzani and Talabani dividing Kurdistan; and have their pledge and loyalty not to Kurds but to their occupiers, dividing the nation; thus, the old ailing historical national disarray renewed and refreshed. “ Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand”(Matthew, 12:25 ). This is the history of Kurds the oldest nation in a world never been united in the face of their enemies; throughout their history whether they let themselves to be manipulated by their enemies or sided with them. The daunting agony is there is no reconciliation or comprise between the two ruling Kurdish family for neither is willing to yield to the other and neither is willing to give up the power; and their persistent division of the nation will ruin the life of Kurds and will revoke the little freedom they attained since the US invasion of Iraq.

Kurdish PKK female fighter in the border area between Turkish Kurdistan and Iraqi Kurdistan, 2017. Photo: ANF

Disgracefully, Barzani indorsed Turkey’s incursion into Kurdistan which infuriated PKK. To this end, the clash between Barzani and PKK is concern and imminent. When that happens, PKK will be victorious, but Turkey’s reaction will be ominous and can lead to full Turkish invasion of Kurdistan with bloody consequences. Besides, Iraqi government surely and gradually stepping up to regain control of Kurdistan to restore Iraq’s integrity, it’s not if but when. Kurdistan is legally part of Iraq and never mind this phony and unrecognized Kurdish Regional Government and their shameful Parliament. Iraq recently stopped Barzani and Talabani from selling oil and Gas. And now Kurdistan is crippling as public employees are not getting their salaries, as a result teachers strike and others has left schools and other government offices closed; this resulting financial difficulties to the nation.

The atrocities committed by Talabani and Barzani against Kurds is abyss, as how these tyrannical leaders robbed people from their resources and how the two families, Barzani and Talabani became one of the wealthiest people not only in Kurdistan but in a world, and they are the wealthiest Kurdish family known to the history of Kurds.

Examining current economic, social and political affairs, one can conclude the deterioration of every aspect of life in Kurdistan. In a final analysis the future of Kurdistan is gloomy, and what should be expected is pending calamities and national disaster. Harms to the national pride made by the present authorities is unfathomable. The time is now for the people to revolt against tyrannical ruling; and shake the yoke of oppression; and break the shackle of the bandages coerced upon them by their ruthless and shameless leaderships.

Rauf Naqishbendi is a retired software engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area. A long-time senior contributing writer for iKurd.net. His memoirs entitled “The Garden Of The Poets”, recently published. It reads as a novel depicting his experience and the subsequent 1988 bombing of his hometown with chemical and biological weapons by Saddam Hussein. It is the story of his people´s suffering, and a sneak preview of their culture and history.

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