MESOP : GLOBAL RESEARCH ON KURDISH LIFE

Written evidence from the London Kurdish Institute

Summary – The London Kurdish Institute is a non-profit think tank striving to highlight, raise awareness and advance the education of the public and government of the United Kingdom, particularly by carrying out and commissioning research into the social, cultural, linguistic, economic, political aspects of Kurdish life in the UK, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, working in cooperation with universities and other education and research institutes to publish and disseminate the results of such research for educational and consultative purposes.

Authors

Dr Mohammed Shareef is a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society (London). He has worked for the UN and is a lecturer in International Relations at the University of Sulaimani in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. He completed his PhD in International Relations at the University of Durham and has an MSc in International Relations from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. He is the author of the book “The United States, Iraq and the Kurds: Shock, Awe and Aftermath” published by Routledge on 12 March 2014.

Dr Janroj Yilmaz Keles is a research fellow at Middlesex University. He has worked for Turkey based Human Rights Organization (IHD) and as a lecturer at London Metropolitan University and Birkbeck, University of London. He completed his PhD in Sociology and Communications at Brunel University. He has conducted with his colleagues several EU and ESRC funded research on media, ethnicity and diaspora. His forthcoming book entitled “Media, Diaspora and Conflict: Nationalism and Identity amongst Turkish and Kurdish Migrants in Europe” will be released on 1 June 2014.

Submission

  1. 1.                   The Kurdistan Region of Iraq has made tremendous political and economic advances since its establishment in 1992. However, the ongoing unilateral policies of Mr Maliki, Prime Minister of the federal government of Iraq, have caused tension and continuous political crises that have destabilised Iraq generally and put the Kurdistan Region specifically at risk.  The permanent political crises in Iraq have created unprecedented tension in the region that is most likely to escalate. The United Kingdom must exert diplomatic pressure on Mr Maliki to reverse his hugely detrimental and divisive policies. 
  2. 2.                   The central Iraqi government’s constant policies of subjugation of the Kurds for almost a century (since the establishment of the Iraqi state by the British in 1921) demonstrate that the sectarian and ethnic mentality in Baghdad far supersedes a common Iraqi national identity. The British government must acknowledge the fragile ethnic and sectarian make up of Iraq and its highly flammable potential.
  3. 3.                   LKI urges the British Government to support the right to Self-Determination of the Iraqi Kurds should they wish to secede from Iraq. Documents of International Law supporting this position are at the end of this submission.
  4. 4.                   In those circumstances, the UK should play a positive role in what we hope would be a peaceful secession of Kurdistan from Arab Iraq, should the Kurds decide to do so, akin to the Velvet Divorce of Czechoslovakia in 1993.
  5. 5.                   The UK Government must understand the Kurdish people’s desire for independ­ence as opposed to the common and mistaken belief of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that it will lead to chaos and instability in the region. An independent Kurdistan could be a source of stability in the Middle East.
  6. 6.                   Kurdish leaders are pragmatic leaders and have no inten­tion of declaring independence right now, but as democratic leaders this is inevitable since this is what Kurdish people really want Many prerequisites for Iraqi Kurdistan’s independence already exist although its leadership has wisely chosen not to pursue it right now.
  7. 7.                   We urge wider understanding of the United Kingdom’s negative historical role in carving out the artificial and dysfunctional state of Iraq.
  8. 8.                   The UK Government should assist the KRG with aspects of Good Governance: to develop transparent, accountable and competent institutions of government.
  9. 9.                   It can assist the KRG to develop and pursue sound and sustainable economic policies.
    1. 10.           It can assist the KRG to develop professional, human rights compliant and trained internal security and police forces.
    2. 11.           It can increase cultural interaction between the Kurdistan Region and the UK.
    3. 12.           It can facilitate and expedite UK visas for visitors from the Kurdistan Region.  

Relevant documents on self-determination

  1. A.                    Charter of the United Nations:

Chapter I, Article 1, Section 2:

To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace.

Chapter IX, Article 55:

With a view to the creation of conditions of stability and well-being which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.

  1. B.                     The United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:

Part 1, Article 1, Sections 1 and 3.

All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

The States Parties to the present Covenant, including those having responsibility for the administration of Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories, shall promote the realization of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

  1. C.                      The United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights:

Part I, Article 1, Sections 1 and 3.

All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

The States Parties to the present Covenant, including those having responsibility for the administration of Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories, shall promote the realization of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

PLEASE NOTE: The points above are used by the UK and Falkland Islands governments to argue their case to remain as a UK overseas territory. Please see link below:

http://www.falklands.gov.fk/self-governance/self-determination/ 

Self-determination is also considered a fundamental human right, with Article 21 (section 3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stating:

“The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.”

PLEASE NOTE: An informal Kurdistan Independence Referendum was conducted on 30 January 2005 alongside the Iraqi parliamentary elections and Iraqi Kurdistan elections. The referendum asked the people of Iraqi Kurdistan whether they favour remaining a part of Iraq or favour an independent Kurdistan. The result was an overwhelming majority of 98.8% favouring an independent Kurdistan. – April 2014