Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Arab Radio Podcast intro
    • Radio Baladi Detroit
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Toggle search form
  • Comedian Ahmed Ahmed at The Comedy Bar in Chicago June 9 - 11, 2023
    Comedian Ahmed Ahmed performs in Chicago June 9-11, 2023 at The Comedy Bar American Arabs
  • Ma'ale Efrayim an illegal Israeli settlement in the Occupied West Bank of Palestine  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
    Adalah: Escalating Annexation Measures Led by Netanyahu Government Require Urgent Intervention of International Community and Tribunals Activism
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, unveils a series of multi language videos to help property tax owners recover overpayments. This one is in Arabic
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas releases video in Arabic to help recover property tax overpayments American Arabs
  • Amnesty International ... www.Amnesty.org
    Global: Amnesty International calls for universal social protection, as overlapping crises leave hundreds of millions facing disaster American Arabs
  • Anti-Arab anti-peace U.S. Senator Robert Menendez who has led the fight to censor American who criticize the brutality and human rights violations of Israel
    Menendez and Risch condemn Syria’s re-admission to Arab League American Arabs
  • property tax info event
    Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi hosts property Tax workshop for Arab community Activism
  • US Border Notice. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    AHRC Holds Another “Meet, Greet & Open Conversation” Forum Hosting the US Border Patrol (CBP): Human Rights
  • Ald. Raymond Lopez and Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas receive the American Arab Chamber of Commerce 2021 Action Award from Hassan Nijem for their support of the Arab and Muslim American community,
    County Treasurer Maria Pappas celebrates Arab Heritage Month with business and community leaders Activism
  • Congresswoman Debbie Dingell Wikipedia
    Dingell, Tlaib Introduce Resolution Recognizing Eid al-Fitr Christian & Muslim
  • Ziyad Food item
    Essential recipes and ingredients during Ramadan  American Arabs
  • Vote Yes campaign button, Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Low Arab early voting turnout in important Orland Park elections American Arabs
  • Aziz Shihab, long time Arab American journalist and author.
    A memorial to a great Arab American Journalist, Aziz Shihab American Arabs
  • Piotr Hofmanski, president of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague
    International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued for Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin Civil Rights
  • Orand First Responders candidates Matthew G. Rafferty and William Bonnar Jr.
    Arab Democrats endorse Rafferty and Bonnar in Orland Fire District race American Arabs
  • Paul Vallas addressing the Arab American Democratic Club on Feb. 12, 2023
    AADC releases its endorsements for the April 4, 2023 non-partisan elections American Arabs

New Dilemmas for Turkey’s Syrian-Iraqi Kurds

Posted on September 20, 2014June 12, 2019 By Abdennour Toumi No Comments on New Dilemmas for Turkey’s Syrian-Iraqi Kurds
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Loading

New Dilemmas for Turkey’s Syrian-Iraqi Kurds

By Abdennour Toumi, Mardin, Turkey

Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey
Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Refugees from Syria at Turkey’s Southern Border

As the civil war in Syria continues, the ethnic factor is just one of many paradoxes plaguing this dynamic conflict/crisis. Along Turkey’s southern long borders, it has become clear that with the regime change the Syrian opposition demands have caused Turkey and its regional policy to evolve regarding ethnic Kurds who form the majority on both sides of the border from Seruç and Ceylanpinar (Aïn-el-Arab) in Şanliurfa province to the Iraqi-Kurdistan borders and the Kobani and Afrin regions as well.

This border was defined and drawn in 1916 under the Sykes-Picot Accord by the colonial foreign policy ministers of France and Britain. Its placement now adds further frustration to the ongoing crisis for its impact on towns and villages on either side. For instance, it divides a town in half along the rail line, Syria’s Darbassiya to the south and Turkey’s Qamishlo and Nusaybin to the north. Check points on this border are closed, and Syrian Kurds dominate the three cantons to the south.

All Syrian-Turkish border areas under Kurdish control present a dilemma for the movement of humanitarian aid, as for Anakra national security, few supplies are ever allowed through. Most days, after waiting long hours in the relentless heat, fleeing the continuing hostilities between ISIS and the YPG (Yekeniyên Paristinên Gel) (Popular Protection Units) a militia in Kobani region operates with the Syrian PYD (Partiya Yektiya Dîmokrat) (Democratic Union Party).

Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey
Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey

Thus for many Kurds in the region détente offers a ray of hope that the peace process under way between Ankara and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) may succeed, which would domestically empower President Erdoğan. At any point, however, a shift in strategy might change the trajectory of the negotiation process, not just for Ankara but also for the PYD in Syria and eventually in Kurdistan Iraq, now in open fighting with ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria).

In its rapacious drive to establish a Caliphate in the region, ISIS now controls hundreds of miles in parts of Syria and the north and west of Iraq. It is said if they [the Syrian refugees] cross the borders into Turkey, they won’t stop at Deyar Bakir, Mardin or Şanliurfa provinces, but will press on to Istanbul and eventually even to Europe. As in most PYD-dominated towns, it adds another layer of complexity for Ankara dealing with the Syrian conflict-management crisis.

The influx of Syrian-Kurds, a mélange of varying political and ethnic strains, has made Kizilitepe, a city of 226,000 in southeast Mardin province, a very “condensed” city and a sensitive focus of Turkey’s massive burden of “guests” from Syria. According to AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency), perhaps as many as 1,500,000 Syrian refugees are now living in Turkey of which only 815,000 are officially registered according to the August UNHCR statistic.

In Kizilitepe alone, there are 20,000 urban refugees, the majority of them not registered with AFAD (equivalent of FEMA in the U.S.), and they are therefore outside the reach of humanitarian assistance channels.

Many are poor and illiterate, depending on aid from local charity groups like Salah e-Eddine, a social service organization, and host community groups sponsored by a majority of Turkish Kurds. Public finance spending by the government has skyrocketed, and Ankara is pressed to the limit for any further financial support.

Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey
Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey

The situation on the ground is not showing any improvement. Ankara needs to evolve longer-term public policies, as it is unlikely there will be any quick return to home for the Syrian refugees. Privately officials are seeking foreign endorsement from Gulf countries, the EU, and the U.S.

On the other hand, local human rights activists and NGOs are advocating issuance of work permits as a means to social integration and better fiscal control. Such ideas are also the principal recommendations by IMPR Humanitarian consultants.

This month aid programs have been active in the cities and the periphery of Kizilitepe in Mardin province and in Ceylanpinar in Şanliurfa province. IMPR Humanitarian provided an implementation assessment program to WHH, funded by the EU’s humanitarian section ECHO, aimed at putting 40 Turkish lira ($20) per person monthly in the walets of the poorest 1,700 families and 8,500 individual refugees selected by humanitarian organization standards that will begin next month.

But many Syrians with whom I spoke still feel it is only a small drop in a bucket toward financial support for the overall Syrian refugee population in Turkey. According to local humanitarian and human rights activist leaders, the best way for Ankara to pre-empt any new wave of refugees would be to reverse the policy that currently blocks most cross-border humanitarian aid.

This analysis fits with an operation led last week through the combined efforts of IMPR Humanitarian and the EU humanitarian section ECHO in Qamishlo province. A food and hygiene kit distribution was carried out across borders after getting permission from Ankara and local authorities on both sides — on the Syrian side, officials and armed elements loyal to the regime remained at their posts while the exchange was made.

Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey
Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey

This area has had almost no aid for three and a half years which has affected the lives of more than two million people, so those coming to Turkey now are not fleeing only the on going war between the local Kurdish autonomist administration (PYD, Syria) and ISIS in the Kobani, Ceylanpinar and Qamishlo regions, but socio-economic conditions.

Recently even AFAD changed its policy and is sending aid directly to the Kurdish areas of Qamishlo and Nusaybin. Thus Turkey has shown the international community its willingness to work and get involved directly in the Syrian-Kurdish areas so vital for its national security and stability.

Currently areas under the influence of the PYD are considered safe, and there appears to be no problematic strategy from former Foreign Affairs minister and current Premier, Dr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, at this time. He has not publicly and explicitly offered any new prospect in his regional foreign policy on the eve of the NATO military operation against ISIS in Iraq; add to this situation, the Yezidi crisis which poses a very serious question for the Turkish new government in its negotiation process with the Kurds because of the strong hand of the PKK and its political wing the local PYD.

PYD members are strongly critical of Ankara and local governments, despite their efforts to provide clothing, food and household supplies to refugees. Certainly at this point the PYD are not welcoming any help from local government. Instead they are employing their own network to help 190 Yezidi families who have fled from Iraqi Kurdistan aided by the PKK in crossing Syrian borders into Turkey.

In speaking with a Yezidi family I was told, “…ISIS gave warning to the Peshmerga to leave a certain area so as not to cause harm…” but “…the Peshmerga didn’t respond, then later fled the region…”  As a result ISIS attacked in the early morning hours and continued until dawn — consequently the people fled to the mountains for safety, some with cars, others escaping on foot.

Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey
Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey

Later a tearful, elderly woman told me “…all my family members were captured by ISIS and were told they wouldn’t be freed until they learned the Koran and converted to Islam.”

All the families present said the Peshmerga did nothing to protect or defend them. As for those who escaped to the mountains, it took them three to five days walking without food or water, when, at last helicopters appeared and dropped a supply of water in plastic bottles.

When they arrived at the Syrian border, the PKK helped them enter Turkish territory. A local academician explained this is how, in a situation like this one, the PKK has shifted its image from a so-called “terrorist” organization to a “humanitarian” one. Surely it has saved hundreds of Yezidis from the knives of ISIS, even while criticizing the role of the Peshmerga who have full support of the West.

In sum, reflecting on comments and observations made by local urban refugees, neither UNHCR nor Western NGOs are fulfilling their responsibilities to these displaced populations, and all of them have a political agenda to which they adhere. 75% of the refugees have never heard of UNHCR and assume other Western NGOs are only here to register them for camps and a resettlement program if one should ever develop…

On the other hand, Ankara needs to effect changes in its public service/finance policies designed on a long-term basis, enact effective work/training programs to generate work permits for eligible refugees, and elicit support from other international communities to further their efforts to sustaining the displaced population. Meanwhile the political and ethnic complexities continue to dominate this very volatile dilemma with no immediate end in sight.

 

 

 

Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey
Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey
Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey
Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey
Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey
Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey
Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey
Photo courtesy Abdennour Toumi, Turkey
Related articles
  • Hundreds of Syrian Kurds fleeing ISIS gather at Turkish border
  • Syrian Kurds fleeing IS group cross into Turkey
  • Turkey opens border to Syrian Kurds
  • Militant Assault in Syria Displaces Thousands of Kurds
  • Kurdish leader urges world to protect Syrian town from Islamic State
  • Syrian Kurds fleeing IS group cross into Turkey
  • 45,000 Syrian Kurds enter Turkey: deputy PM
  • Turkey opens border to Syrian Kurds fleeing Isil
  • 45,000 Syrians flee Isis advance
  • Hundreds of Syrian Kurds fleeing Islamic State gather on Turkish border

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Abdennour Toumi
Abdennour Toumi:
- France correspondent for The Arab Daily News.
- www.bareed-areej.com Editor-in-Chief
رئيس تحرير مجلة بريد الأريج
- Political consultant at IMPR a Think-Tank based in Ankara, Turkey.
- Member at the European Observatory for Arabic Language Teaching based in Paris, France.
- Affiliated with Sociology of Islam Journal and contributor at Middle East Studies / International Studies, Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies Center, Portland State University in Portland, OR.

EDUCATION: Diplôme des Études Approfondies (DEA) in Political Science from Toulouse University I, France. Master’s degree in Law from Algiers University, Algeria.

Email im at: nourhty@gmail.com
Abdennour Toumi
Follow me:
Latest posts by Abdennour Toumi (see all)
  • The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Is the Neither-Peace-nor-Security As-sumption Dominating Again? - June 7, 2021
  • Algeria: “I Can See Clearly Now” - August 5, 2019
  • Majesty Mohammed VI and General Gaïd Salah Tear Down This Wall! - July 29, 2019

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Abdennour Toumi, Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, News, Spotlight, Syria Tags:Ankara, Iraq, Kurdish people, Kurdistan Workers' Party, Refugees of the Syrian civil war, Syria, Syrian Kurd, Turkey

Post navigation

Previous Post: Obituary: Azizah Magazine Publisher Tayyibah Taylor
Next Post: Cooking Middle Eastern food is a passion and necessity for American Arabs

Related Posts

  • راى حنانيا. Ray Hanania
    American news media exploits Khashoggi torture-killing for their own agenda Arab World
  • American Arab Saad helps Blackhawks win Stanley Cup American Arabs
  • Mayor Richard J. Daley with the Ambassador of Morocco at City Hall in 1976. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    US – Morocco celebrate 230 years of friendship American Arabs
  • Obit: Boutros-Ghali, veteran Egyptian diplomat dies Arab World
  • Jewish Arab American’s horse American Pharoah wins Triple Crown American Arabs
  • Screen shot of Google News placement of stories Ray Hanania has written, showing how articles written by pro-Israel sources are given higher and longer placement on Google News searches while the original articles written by Arabs and Palestinians are played down in search results. This is the top portion of the page.
    Google discriminates against Arab news sites Activism

More Related Articles

What Deranged Donald and Joe Biden Have in Common Arab World
Place Charles-de-Gaulle, Prissier, France. Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi From a Social Movement to an Urban Insurgency in France Abdennour Toumi
Arab Gulf sees rise in Tourism Arab World
The violence by Israel’s soldiers and settler terrorists Arab World
Vanunu and Eileen Fleming, 24 Nov. 2013 Mission from God Regarding Israel’s Nuclear Whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu Arab World
USS Liberty Ship's Patch Help Wanted: USS Liberty FOIA Attorney Bloggers

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • City University of New York's (CUNY) 2023 graduation class speaker, Fatima Musa Mohammed on May 12, 2023
    Politics fuels campaign accusing CUNY graduate of “anti-Semitism”
    June 5, 2023
  • Ghassan Rubeiz
    Lebanese parliament afraid to vote for next president
    June 1, 2023
  • Hezbollah billboards in Lebanon celebrate Sheikh Hasan Nasrallah and the righteous war against Israeli extremism and fanaticism. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Who will choose the next Lebanese President?
    May 12, 2023
  • The term Arab will be meaningless if we don’t stand behind it and choose “MENA” instead
    April 29, 2023
  • 300x300-ZIYAD02.jpg
  • 300x300-ZIYAD01.jpg
  • NEWS
  • Comedian Ahmed Ahmed at The Comedy Bar in Chicago June 9 - 11, 2023
    Comedian Ahmed Ahmed performs in Chicago June 9-11, 2023 at The Comedy Bar
    June 9, 2023
  • Ma'ale Efrayim an illegal Israeli settlement in the Occupied West Bank of Palestine  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
    Adalah: Escalating Annexation Measures Led by Netanyahu Government Require Urgent Intervention of International Community and Tribunals
    June 8, 2023
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, unveils a series of multi language videos to help property tax owners recover overpayments. This one is in Arabic
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas releases video in Arabic to help recover property tax overpayments
    May 18, 2023
  • Amnesty International ... www.Amnesty.org
    Global: Amnesty International calls for universal social protection, as overlapping crises leave hundreds of millions facing disaster
    May 10, 2023
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Anti-Arab anti-peace U.S. Senator Robert Menendez who has led the fight to censor American who criticize the brutality and human rights violations of Israel
    Menendez and Risch condemn Syria’s re-admission to Arab League
    May 10, 2023
  • US Border Notice. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    AHRC Holds Another “Meet, Greet & Open Conversation” Forum Hosting the US Border Patrol (CBP):
    May 2, 2023
  • Ald. Raymond Lopez and Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas receive the American Arab Chamber of Commerce 2021 Action Award from Hassan Nijem for their support of the Arab and Muslim American community,
    County Treasurer Maria Pappas celebrates Arab Heritage Month with business and community leaders
    April 27, 2023
  • Ziyad Food item
    Essential recipes and ingredients during Ramadan 
    April 4, 2023

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

POPULAR POSTS

  • Who will choose the next Lebanese President? Who will choose the next Lebanese President? By Ghassan Michel Rubeiz Since September of last year the Lebanese parliament has ... posted on May 12, 2023
  • Lebanese parliament afraid to vote for next president Lebanese parliament afraid to vote for next president By Ghassan Michel Rubeiz When will Lebanon’s political leaders agree to vote ... posted on June 1, 2023
  • Politics fuels campaign accusing CUNY graduate of “anti-Semitism” Politics fuels campaign accusing CUNY graduate of "anti-Semitism" A CUNY graduate student delivered a speech on May 12, 2023 urging ... posted on June 5, 2023
  • Arab-American influencers Furrha Family share secrets of their success Arab-American influencers Furrha Family share secrets of their success Salem Furrha and his eight children @theFurrhaFamily on TikTok and Instagram represent ... posted on February 6, 2021
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas releases video in Arabic to help recover property tax overpayments Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas releases video in Arabic to help recover property tax overpayments Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas ... posted on May 18, 2023
  • Comedian Ahmed Ahmed performs in Chicago June 9-11, 2023 at The Comedy Bar Comedian Ahmed Ahmed performs in Chicago June 9-11, 2023 at The Comedy Bar Egyptian-American actor, comedian, producer, and director Ahmed ... posted on June 9, 2023

Recent Posts

  • Comedian Ahmed Ahmed performs in Chicago June 9-11, 2023 at The Comedy Bar
  • Adalah: Escalating Annexation Measures Led by Netanyahu Government Require Urgent Intervention of International Community and Tribunals
  • Politics fuels campaign accusing CUNY graduate of “anti-Semitism”
  • Lebanese parliament afraid to vote for next president
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas releases video in Arabic to help recover property tax overpayments
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Glory to God int he Lowest by Author Rev. Donald Wagner
    Book Review: Glory to God in the Lowest: journeys to an unholy land
    February 18, 2023
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Comedian Ahmed Ahmed at The Comedy Bar in Chicago June 9 - 11, 2023
    Comedian Ahmed Ahmed performs in Chicago June 9-11, 2023 at The Comedy Bar
    June 9, 2023
  • Ziyad Food item
    Essential recipes and ingredients during Ramadan 
    April 4, 2023
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast
    December 15, 2022
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Comedian Ramy Youssef courtesy of his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ramysfaceboo/
    “Ramy” cable series melds Arab world reality with every day American life
    October 22, 2022
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2023 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme