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By Kamal Chomani:
Each time I look at my passport, I feel insulted. Whenever, wherever police or any other people ask for my passport, I feel broken and ashamed inside. My passport is Iraqi, but I am not Iraqi and no one knows who I am! It needs too much elaboration to tell them that I am not Iraqi, I belong to another nationality.
Being a Kurd is not a sin as some racist people believe. It is a matter of pride. It doesn’t mean that I am a radical nationalist, even though Kurdish nationalism is rather a reaction to Arab, Turk, and Persian nationalisms. Allah the Al-mighty, talks about this in Quran: a fundamentally Islamic idea as revealed in Quran:
“Behold, We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another…
This community of yours is one single community, since I am the Sustainer of you all: remain, then, conscious of me.”
Qur’an 49:13, 23:52
I mention the verse to explain that Turkey’s ruling Islamic-rooted party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), and the Islamic Republic of Iran are standing against Allah’s words. We should not be cheated anymore, in particular by the AKP’s tricks.
We Kurds are more than 30 million people around the world. Kurds have been divided between Iran,Turkey,Iraq and Syria. These 30 million people have not got their fundamental rights yet. They are still struggling. They are still under a strong persecution by the authorities of Turkey, Iran and Syria. Things are different in Iraq. In Iraq, Kurds have established a federal government, yet the disputed areas are not recognized as the Kurdistan Regional Government’s territories.
Recently, Iraq’s prime minister, Nuri Al-Maliki, announced that the KRG’s flag should be removed in governmental offices and buildings in Khanaqin, a Kurdish city in Diyala province. If we had our independence, Al-Maliki would never dare to order such decisions. With reference to Talabani’s speech, delivered in Turkey, when he said, “Kurdish independence is a poetic dream”: even if it is a dream, we should aim for it to become a reality so that we don’t have to feel insulted every second by the dominant forces in the region. If we have our own country, we will have our own Kurdish passport. We won’t feel insulted when we are asked to show to our passports.
For two months I have been studying in India. I see that Arabs from different countries – and Persians, Turks, Koreans, Butanes, Nepalis, Chinese etc… are all holding their own passports. They don’t have to give lectures, like I do, when you ask them: “Where are you from?”
Whenever I face that question, I do not know how to answer. Do I need to tell them I am Iraqi, or shall I say I am a Kurd?
“Yes, my passport is Iraqi but I am a Kurd”.
I am then asked these questions: “Who are the Kurds? Do you live in Iraq? Is your language Arabic? Why cannot you speak Arabic as other Iraqis do? What is the population of your country? You are over 30 million people, but still do not have an independent country? Etc…?”
On October 15, 2011, Hassan Alawi, an Iraqi Member of Parliament, in a seminar held for him by the Kurdish Writers Union, announced that it is time to declare independence, but the Kurds have been careless. He said: “Kurds made revolution in the past; it is time to revolt to build a State.”
When any Indian people ask me what is the main reason behind your division, and not having an independent country, I will definitely respond like this: “Since we haven’t had a national leader like Ghandi, that’s why still I have to be insulted everyday by my passport!”
I am wondering whether or not we will have a Ghandi in the near future, since there is no sign of a Ghandi in contemporary Kurdish politics.
We, in particular the young generation, should not listen to those who want to continue holding Iraqi passports. We should work hard towards building an independent country. It might be a dream for Talabani, but it is our duty to make it possible, to make it a reality.
Fortunately, day by day, some Kurdish politicians are thinking twice and realizing that, without having an independent country, our identity will disappear through a process of assimilation. Kosrat Rasul Ali, Talabani’s first deputy, reflected on this in a recent interview with Aso newspaper.
I don’t want to be insulted by my passport anymore. No one wants this. All Kurds around the world have the same feelings that I have.
Kamal Chomani is writing from India.
kamalchomani@gmail.com
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I Guess every Human should have a separate country and his own homeland. All of us who dont have a separate country should feel ashamed to hold a passport of a larger country. I think this is what you want to say. Just imagine USA divided in 52 at least or innumerable countries. This is good to have an identity and passport of you own.
Brother I can feel ur Thoughts, because we the Baloch are living in the worst condition of slavery. i wish if u could have mentioned the name of evil state pakistan because it is as involved in Genocide of Baloch as Iraq and Iran are. It is up to us to show our Identity that we are a Nation otherwise the world has nothing to do for us…… And i am really Impressed of ur Feelings
I am an Iraqi citizen that used to live abroad for years, and I just moved back home this year. I have a lot of Kurdish friends and I truly support your independence and sovereignty. However, I find it extremely ridiculous to consider the Iraqi passport an insult to yourself. I’m not trying to brag about it but we (Iraqis) are the only nation that gave you full rights to live alone and enjoy peaceful region. If you’re going to mention Saddam Hussein’s massacres against the Kurds, I’m going to mention his massacres against the Shiites. After all, Iran, Syria and Turkey are neglecting the Kurds who exist within their borders, unlike IRAQ.
So again, I can proudly say that you’re blessed with this passport because there is nothing called a Kurdish passport and you wouldn’t have traveled abroad and studied in India if you hadn’t an Iraqi passport in the first place.
Finally, you can have your own state but you have to RESPECT the country that sheltered you from the Turkish and Iranian governments oppression to your people.
Thank you for your kind show of support, The problem most kurds have is that we have is yes we have been under a lot oppression from our neighbouring countries, please do not blame everything on Saddam along he had an Army made of almost a million solders whom had not problem marching though our villages killing 100s of 1000s of Kurds.
Sadly he did the same thing to South of Iraq and the Sheitt’s. We as the people empower people. we the people if life is good we watch a bit of news and say oh that is sad and turn our back and never to think about the massacres caused. I lived in Iran for 8 years after Saddam’s Military gassed and Killed 1/2 our village in less the 24 hours, those who did not escape were buried alive in mass graves.
Sadly I never saw a single Arab, Turk or Persian to stand up and say this is work nor did the East or West. So if we choose to be independent and this may politically and financially inconvenience Baghdad and the current corrupt government then I have nothing to apologies for.
I respect every human being with the respect they deserve. We did not choose to be born, follow a religion or speak a language in that we are all equal. What I do have a problem with when others try and take away your right for self determination and independence.
Remember this way is never about people, freedom or protecting the poor and innocent its is about future economical development and strategic positioning of your self for survival. Freedom and democracy are merrily a buzz words or catch phrased used as a marketing terminology to achieve a marketing campaign to win over people and their pockets.
War = Business when there is no war there is no demand for weapons. Simple Supply and Demand equation.
Thank you.
Hi I am Mexican and let me tell you I love how you thing and I agree, all human beings should have the right to stand for their country,to feel proud and to show the world who they are,I mean it is not a crime to exist, the real crime is to prohibit the independence of a country. But as you were saying maybe kuds have been careless, but you can start motivating people, everything starts since one simple and single idea. To let people know about your current situation. I think it’s a shame that a beautiful country isn’t known worldwide, but I hope one day soon your independence could be a real thing and not just a dream. Greetingd from Mexico!