Examine individual changes

'{{Kurds}} [[Kurdish people|Kurds]] are the largest ethnic minority in [[Syria]] making up 10% of the country's population.<ref>[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3580.htm Background Note: Syria] U.S. Department of State</ref> Most of them are [[Sunni]] Muslims; there are also [[Yazidi]] and [[Yarsan]] Kurds in Syria and small numbers of [[Christian]]s and [[Alawi]]s. They face routine discrimination and harassment by the Syrian government.<ref name=GUARD>Ian Black. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/16/syrian-human-rights-unchanged-assad Syrian human rights record unchanged under Assad, report says], The Guardian, 16 July 2010.</ref> ==Demographics== The majority of Kurds in Syria originally came from [[Turkish Kurds|Turkey]] in the 1920s.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=qgKE_-HtfoAC&pg=PA475&dq=kurds+in+Syria&hl=en&ei=7QYITeCsLM2hOorEueMO&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEEQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=kurds%20in%20Syria&f=false|title=A companion to the history of the Middle East|author=Youssef M. Choueiri|edition=Hardcover|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|year=2005|isbn=1405106816|page=475}}</ref> The community in Syria is quite small compared to their compatriots in [[Iran]], [[Iraq]] and [[Turkey]]. However in the years 1980-1990, Kurds in Syria changed their tactics. During this period, violent clashes of community members with authorities resulted in mass arrests and deaths in 1986 and 1992. Considering that the State department and CIA did not acknowledge the existence of the [[Kurds]] in Syria in 1970s and 1980s, Syrian government officially does not acknowledge the existence of [[Kurds]] in Syria, and lack of transparent census in Syria; it would be difficult to predicate the true and accurate percentage. ==Geography== Kurds mostly live in a geocultural region in northeastern Syria. This region covers greater part of the governorate of [[Al Hasakah Governorate|Al Hasakah]], a region also inhabited by many [[Assyrian people|Assyrians]].. The main cities in this region are [[Al-Qamishli]] and [[Al Hasakah]]. Another region with significant Kurdish population is [[Kobany]] ([[Ain Al-Arab]]) in the northern part of Syria near the town of [[Jarabluss]]. The Kurdish-inhabited northern and northeastern parts of Syria in [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]] is called "Kurdistana Binxetê". An area of Kurdish concentration is [[Kurd-Dagh]] in the northwest, around the town of [[Afrin]] in [[Aleppo Governorate]], a region that extends to the [[Turkey|Turkish]] districts [[Islahiye]] and [[Kırıkhan]]. Also many [[Kurds]] live in metropolitan areas and large cities of the country.<ref>[http://modersmal.skolutveckling.se/nordkurdiska/kurdmap/pages/Geographic%20Distribution%20of%20Kurdish%20and%20other%20Iranic%20Languages_jpg_gif.htm modersmal.skolutveckling.se]</ref><ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sy.html cia.gov]</ref> ===KDPS, Jazira and Barzani=== [[Osman Sabri]] and [[Daham Miro]] along with some Kurdish politicians, founded the '''Kurdistan Democratic Party of Syria''' (KDPS) in 1957. The objectives of KDPS were promotion of [[Kurdish People|Kurdish]] cultural rights, economic progress and democratic change. KDPS was never legally recognized by the Syrian state and remains an underground organization, especially after a crackdown in 1960 during which several of its leaders were arrested, charged with separatism and imprisoned. After the failure of Syrian political union with [[Egypt]] in 1961, Syria was declared an ''Arab Republic'' in the interim constitution. On 23 August 1962, the government conducted a special population census only for the province of ''Jazira'' which was predominantly [[Kurdish People|Kurdish]]. As a result, around 120,000 [[Kurds]] in Jazira were arbitrarily categorized as ''aliens''. In fact, the inhabitants had Syrian identity cards and were told to hand them over to the administration for renewal. However those [[Kurds]] who submitted their cards received nothing in return. A media campaign was launched against the [[Kurds]] with slogans such as ''Save Arabism in Jazira!'' and ''Fight the Kurdish threat!''. These policies coincided with the beginning of [[Mustafa Barzani|Barzani]]'s uprising in [[Iraqi Kurdistan]] and discovery of oilfields in the [[Kurdish People|Kurdish]] inhabited areas of Syria. In June 1963, Syria took part in the [[Iraq]]i military campaign against the [[Kurds]] by providing aircraft, armoured vehicles and a force of 6,000 soldiers. Syrian troops crossed the Iraqi border and moved into Kurdish town of [[Zakho]] in pursuit of [[Mustafa Barzani|Barzani]]'s fighters<ref>I. C. Vanly, ''The Kurds in Syria and Lebanon'', In ''The Kurds: A Contemporary Overview'', Edited by P.G. Kreyenbroek, S. Sperl, Chapter 8, Routledge, 1992, ISBN 0415072654, pp.151-2</ref> ===Arab cordon=== In 1965, the Syrian government decided to create an Arab cordon (''Hizam Arabi'') in the Jazira region along the [[Turkey|Turkish]] border. The cordon was 300 kilometers long and 10-15 kilometers wide, stretched from the [[Iraq]]i border in the east to ''Ras Al-Ain'' in the west. The implementation of the ''Arab cordon'' plan began in 1973 and [[Bedouin]] Arabs were brought in and resettled in [[Kurdistan|Kurdish]] areas. The [[toponymy]] of the area such as village names were Arabized. According to the original plan, some 140,000 Kurds had to be deported to the southern desert near ''Al-Raad''. Although [[Kurdish People|Kurdish]] farmers were dispossessed of their lands, they refused to move and give up their houses. Among these [[Kurdish People|Kurdish]] villagers, those who were designated as alien are not allowed to own property, to repair a crumbling house or to build a new one.<ref>I. C. Vanly, ''The Kurds in Syria and Lebanon'', In ''The Kurds: A Contemporary Overview'', Edited by P.G. Kreyenbroek, S. Sperl, Chapter 8, Routledge, 1992, ISBN 0415072654, pp.157,158,161</ref> ===1986 Demonstrations=== In March 1986, a few thousand [[Kurds]] wearing [[Kurdish People|Kurdish]]ecostume gathered in the [[Kurdistan|Kurdish]] part of [[Damascus]] to celebrate the spring festival of [[Newroz]]. Police warned them that [[Kurdish People|Kurdish]] dress is prohibited and it fired on the crowd leaving one person dead. Around 40,000 [[Kurds]] took part in his funeral in Qamishli. Also in [[Afrin]], three Kurds were killed during the Newroz demonstrations.<ref>I. C. Vanly, ''The Kurds in Syria and Lebanon'', In ''The Kurds: A Contemporary Overview'', Edited by P.G. Kreyenbroek, S. Sperl, Chapter 8, Routledge, 1992, ISBN 0415072654, pp.163-164</ref> === The March 2004 riots === {{main|Qamishli massacre (2004)}} After an incident in a [[Association football|football]] stadium in [[Al Qamishli]], 65 people were killed and more than 160 were injured in days of clashes starting from March 12. [[Kurdish People|Kurdish]] sources indicated that Syrian security forces used live ammunition against civilians after clashes broke out at a football match between [[Kurdish People|Kurdish]] fans of the local team and [[Syria|Arab]] supporters of a visiting team from the city of [[Deir al-Zor]]. The international press reported that nine people were killed on March 12. According to Amnesty International hundreds of people, mostly [[Kurds]], were arrested after the riots. [[Kurdish People|Kurdish]] detainees were reportedly tortured and ill-treated. Some [[Kurdish People|Kurdish]] students were expelled from their universities, reportedly for participating in peaceful protests.<ref>[http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/03/19/syria8132.htm Syria: Address Grievances Underlying Kurdish Unrest], [[HRW]], March 19, 2004.</ref> === Formation of an Umbrella for Kurds === {{Main|Kurdistan National Assembly of Syria}} Sherkoh Abbas, President, located in Washington DC. The Kurdistan National Assembly of Syria was formed to represent Syrian Kurds based on two major conferences, one at the US Senate in March 2006 and the other at the EU parliament in Brussels in 2006. The Kurdistan National Assembly of Syria (KNAS) seek democracy for Syria and granting rights to Kurds and other Syrian minorities. Also, we seek to transform Syria into a federal state, with a democratic system and structure for the federal government and provincial governments. This will begin a new era in which the Syrian people and neighboring countries will enjoy freedom, peace, security and stability. === 2011 Demonstrations === {{Main|2011 Syrian protests}} Following the [[2010–2011 Tunisian revolution|Tunisian Revolution]] and the [[Egyptian Revolution of 2011|Egyptian Revolution]], February 4th 2011 was declared a 'Day of Rage' in Syria by activists through the medium of [[Facebook]]. Few turned out to protest, but among the few were Kurdish demonstrators in the northeast of the country.<ref>http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/02/201129103121562395.html</ref> == Human rights of Kurds in Syria == {{See also|Human rights in Syria}} === Amnesty and HRW reports=== Kurds often speak [[Kurdish Language|Kurdish]] in public, unless all those present do not. [[Amnesty International USA]] claims [[Kurdish People|Kurdish]] human rights activists are mistreated and persecuted.<ref>[http://www.amnestyusa.org/regions/middleeast/document.do?id=80256DD400782B8480256F63006435DB amnestyusa.org]</ref> According to the [[Human Rights Watch]], Kurds in Syria can not use the [[Kurdish language]], are not allowed to register children with [[Kurdish Language|Kurdish]] names, prohibited to start businesses that do not have [[Arabic]] names, are not permitted to build [[Kurdish Language|Kurdish]] private schools, and prohibited to publish books and other materials written in [[Kurdish Language|Kurdish]].<ref name="hrw.org">[http://hrw.org/reports/1996/Syria.htm hrw.org]</ref><ref>[http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/01/13/syria9812.htm hrw.org]</ref> === Citizenship === In 1962, 20 percent of Syria's [[Kurdish People|Kurdish]] population were stripped of their Syrian citizenship following a very highly controversial census raising concerns among human rights groups. According to the Syrian government, the reason for this enactment was due to groups of Kurds infiltrating the [[Al-Hasakah Governorate]] in 1945. The Syrian government claims that the Kurds came from neighboring countries, especially [[Turkey]], and crossed into Syrian borders illegally. The government claims that these Kurds settled down, gradually, in the region in cities like [[Amuda]] and [[Al Qamishli]] until they accounted for the majority in some of these cities. The government also claims that many [[Kurds]] were capable of registering themselves illegally in the Syrian civil registers. The government further speculated that [[Kurds]] intended to settle down and acquire property, especially after the issue of the agricultural reform law, in order to benefit from land redistribution.<ref name="hrw.org"/> However, according to Human Rights Watch, the Syrian government falsely claimed that many of the [[Kurds]] who were the original inhabitants of the land were foreigners, and in turn, violated their human rights by stripping them of their Syrian citizenship.<ref name="silenced1996">[http://hrw.org/reports/1996/Syria.htm Syria Silenced Kurds, Human Rights Watch]</ref> [[Image:Flag of Kurdistan.svg|thumb|The [[Kurdish flag|flag of Kurdistan]] is banned in Syria.<ref>[http://www.amude.net/Nuce_Kurdi_deep.php?newsId=5069 www.amude.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>]] As a result of government claims of an increase in illegal immigration, the Syrian government decided to conduct a general census on October 5, 1962 in the governorate with claims that its sole purpose was to purify registers and eliminate the alien infiltrators. As a result, the verified registrations of the citizens of Syria were included in the new civil registers. The remaining, which included 100,000 [[Kurds]], were registered as foreigners in special registers.<ref name="hrw.org"/> Since then, the number of stateless [[Kurds]] has grown to more than 200,000.<ref>[http://voanews.com/english/archive/2005-09/2005-09-02-voa15.cfm?CFID=46444555&CFTOKEN=26238763 voanews.com]</ref> Accodring to Refugees International, there are about 300,000 stateless Kurds in Syria; however, Kurds dispute this number and estimate about 500,000. According to the Human Rights Watch, by many accounts, the special census was carried out in an arbitrary manner separating members of the same families and classifying them differently. HRW claims that some [[Kurds]] in the same family became citizens while others became foreigners suggesting an inaccuracy in the Syrian government's process; HRW also alleges that some of the [[Kurds]] who had served in the Syrian army lost citizenship while those who bribed officials kept theirs.<ref name="silenced1996"/> Stateless [[Kurds]] also do not have the option of legally relocating to another country because they lack passports or other internationally recognized travel documents. In Syria, other than in the governorate of [[Al-Hasakah Governorate|Al-Hasakah]], foreigners cannot be employed at government agencies and state-owned enterprises; they may not legally marry Syrian citizens. [[Kurds]] with foreigner status do not have the right to vote in elections or run for public office. In April 2011, the President signed Decree 49 which provides citizenship for Kurds who were registered as foreigners in Hasaka.<ref>[http://sana.sy/eng/21/2011/04/08/pr-340560.htm Legislative Decree on Granting Syrian Nationality to People Registered in Registers of Hasaka Foreigners], ''[[SANA]]'', 8 April 2011</ref> ===Accusations of racism and apartheid=== Accusations of Syrian Arab racism and apartheid, especially against the Kurdish minority, comes from Kurdish human rights organizations.<ref>"Support Kurds, 14 May 2010 [http://supportkurds.org/news/the-suppression-of-the-kurdish-people-in-syria-list-of-names-the-kurdish-soldiers/]</ref><ref>"Kurdish Organization for Human Rights in Austria," 2010-12-14 Memorandum of Kurds in syria'' [http://www.mesop.de/2010/12/14/memorandum-of-kurds-in-syria/]</ref> and others.<ref>''For Zion's sake'' Yehuda Zvi Blum, Associated University Presse, ISBN 0845348094 (1987) p. 220</ref> == See also == *[[Iraqi Kurdistan]] *[[Iranian Kurdistan]] *[[Turkish Kurdistan]] *[[History of the Kurdish people]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.kurdnas.org/ kurdnas.org] *[http://www.kurdwatch.org/ KurdWatch.org] *[http://supportkurds.org/ Support Kurds in Syria] *[http://kurdishrights.org/ The Alliance for Kurdish Rights] {{Syria topics}} [[Category:Ethnic minorities]] [[Category:Kurdish diaspora]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Syria]] [[de:Kurden in Syrien]] [[fa:کردستان سوریه]] [[ku:Başûrê Rojavaya Kurdistanê]] [[nl:Koerden in Syrië]] [[pt:Curdistão sírio]] [[simple:Western Kurdistan]] [[ckb:ڕۆژئاوای کوردستان]] [[sv:Kurdistan#Kurdistans utbredning]]'