Friday, February 28

A decades-long conflict between the Kurdish people and Turkey could be coming to an end after an imprisoned leader of the group confirmed that their rebel organization should be dissolved.

The Kurds are an ethnic group situated in the mountainous region of Kurdistan, which is spread out across southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northern Syria, and northwestern Iran. The Kurds have had conflict with Turkey for centuries as they attempt to create their own independent nation, but the more recent fighting has taken a large toll on both sides.

After decades of intense fighting, the government took major steps against the Kurds in 1937. Villages were destroyed and hundreds of people were deported to other countries, and the entire area was put under the control of the military. Kurdish as a language was banned completely and the words "Kurds" and "Kurdistan" were removed from the dictionary.

However, in 1978, the fighting restarted, with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leading the way. The PKK fought hard for an independent state, launching attacks on Turkish military and police. Since 1984, at least 37,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

The PKK was led into this fighting in 1984 by their leader, Abdullah Öcalan, who founded the party in 1978. He served as the chief of the organization for over 20 years and operated out of Syria until he was forced to leave in 1998. Öcalan proceeded to visit several different countries searching for a solution to benefit the Kurds, but he was almost arrested multiple times. Then, once he arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, he was kidnapped and brought back to Turkey, where he was imprisoned.

While Öcalan was supposed to serve the death penalty, it was soon abolished in Turkey, and his sentence was changed to life imprisonment in solitary confinement. This is where he stands today, alone at the Imrali island in the Sea of Marmara.

However, recently, from his cell, Öcalan called on the PKK to stop the fighting. Throughout his confinement, he had always been confident of finding some sort of political solution, but he has instructed the group to lay down their weapons and dissolve the organization.

Nevertheless, many people are unsure whether the conflict will really come to an end. The Kurds and Turks have been at war for centuries, so both sides will need to make a conscious effort to bring peace to the region.

Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Viruses are not considered living things by biologists. They are not made up of cells and do not create their own energy, so they are considered nonliving.

Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Many eyes go through the meadow, but few see the flowers in it. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Doff (verb, DAHF) - To doff a hat or other piece of clothing is to take it off.

In a Sentence: They doffed their coats when they came inside the house.