Kurdish National Conference* and some suggestions

By Saman Salih Faraj:

Translated by Aras Ahmed Mhamad

This generation of Kurdish people is witnessing probably the greatest national event in the old and new history of their struggle, which is holding the first Kurdish National Conference in South Kurdistan. Kurds and their representatives from all parts of Kurdistan and in some other places will participate.

This Conference is very important for the Kurds – but that does not mean that this event is not affected or uncared for by the foreigners, conquerors, and some other internal issues. Despite all of these, this National Conference must reflect all people’s demands, answer their questions, and at the end take all the outcomes of the event into consideration. As a humble effort, this article suggests some points towards that:

First: Before holding the Conference, there has to be a preparation committee that should clarify that this event is a democratic and peaceful step and this is only the first step not the last. Additionally, our national and patriotic struggle for liberation is not restricted only by this Conference.

Second: There has to be a written National Promise as a reference for all the Kurds. This National Promise has to have a moral and political base that obliges every Kurd to stick to it and look at it as a Kurd’s Promise. I suggest calling it “Kurds’ Great Promise”. It should include these points:

Kurdish Nation- People of Kurdistan: individuals, political parties, social organizations and other groups must promise/swear that no Kurd will spill the blood of another Kurd for any reason or for any price under any circumstance whatsoever.  This promise is a must upon every Kurd in the hope of uniting Kurdistan’s Land and people, and if there were any conflict between any two Kurds, they must resolve it through dialogue and not spilling the blood of each other.

Kurdistan is one piece of United Land- but because of the international situations and interests after World War I, the empires of the world have divided it among four countries without our own will.

In the Conference, the participants must depend on scientific proofs. They should rely on the opinions of those who are specialized in geography, university teachers, and historical facts to determine on the actual frontiers of Great Kurdistan.

In the Conference, they must agree on one national flag and recognized it as the official flag of Kurdistan. They should also specify and unify one national anthem. In addition, there has to be a unified Kurdish language among the very many language varieties by relying on the opinions of Language Centers and the experience and history of other countries and nations.

The point of this Conference is: The Kurds are a living nation and have their right and question. This Conference is a reflection of our civic way of struggle demonstrating to the whole world the achievements in South Kurdistan. Despite all the notes on the Kurdistan Regional Government and the experience of the President of the region, it is very important for the Kurdistan Parliament to consider the aforementioned suggestions and points and try to make laws out of them.

By taking these and similar suggestions into consideration, we will end up having the first National Promise for all the Kurds in the near and far history of our resistance. There may be people who see these suggestions as a dream, but the importance of this kind of promise is: when a Kurd spills the blood of another Kurd, s/he will be charged twice: First, according to the normal law. Second, according to the laws of the “Kurds’ Great Promise”.

Lawyers and judges might have notes concerning the fact that a convicted person has to be sentenced only by one law. However, if we as Kurds consider this National Promise as a way of living and an approach of strengthening our unity; we can accomplish it according to the normal procedures of law. Hence, there will be a red line for sovereignty and respect for every individual Kurd and it could be the permanent bedrock for the democratic Kurdistan.

In conclusion, if we look at this Conference from a pure Kurdish perspective specifically in this sensitive moment, then we realize how significant this step is. I hope that this Conference issues a decision to hold yearly conferences, just like the United Nations, African and Arabian League Conferences. I have in mind the hope that this conference unites the Kurdish nation and people of Kurdistan to declare the first independent Kurdistan, though it seems unlikely to achieve that in this conference.

* The first National Conference was held on July 22nd, 2013 in Hawler, the Capital of Kurdistan Region.

The Kurdish Link: http://xendan.org/drejaWtar.aspx?NusarID=314&Jmara=5354

Saman Salih Faraj is a journalist and the Director of Kurd-Mad Organization for Cultural and Democratic Development.

 Aras Ahmed Mhamad is a freelance writer and translator. He is the Founder and Deputy Editor of SMART magazine, an independent English magazine that focuses on ‘Literature, Language, Society’. He is the Top Student of College of Languages at the Department of English/ University of Human Development, 2012.