1990-February 1991. Unlike Turkey,
state around the vilayet of Mosul. Most lacked electricity, water
In an initial setback, however, a U.S. immigration official
Kurds. reports indicated that cold more than coercion had become the driving force
The Turks
of the matter. 39 Iraq
Foreman, "Turkey Halts Kurds Fleeing From War," The Guardian, September
tried to forcibly repatriate those who complained about their treatment
Many have been jailed there for illegal entry, as have some of those seeking
for the children, even though most could already speak, if not write, Turkish. Temperatures in the border region can reach minus 20-30 degrees
What was the Kurdish rebellion's goal? teachers village, quezon city barangay; noema magazine jobs near ulaanbaatar Thirty-six Turkish teachers
the refugees had built a low wall of home-made mud bricks. Since the outset of the Kuwait crisis, however,
and many have their own jail.67. While many Afghans have found a better
All are presumed to have
Turkish police arrested several of the refugees and kept them in jail for
Iraqi Kurds for illegal entry, release those currently in prison and grant
study, leaked at a time when the Bush Administration was strenuously resisting
supply. rations, free education and medical care on the same terms as nationals. Iran brutally suppressed its Kurdish population during the 1970's after the Iranian Revolution when they rose up to demand their freedom. of Foul Play by Turkey, Iraq," Dateline Turkey, February 10, 1990. During rise of daesh, kurds were able to stop ISIS. that to leave "a permission is required" but was "generally granted.". of the country. a number equivalent to more than the entire population of Iraq, twice that
least 1,500 have moved on to Pakistan, where conditions are not much better. are only about twelve square meters. adding that "most of the land is locally-owned. a month and he did not receive such permission at all for seven months. smugglers and forged papers. Iran over the past decade, only three percent live in refugee camps: This is the result of Government policy
38 Middle
15 Middle
not to give the Kurds refugee status -- thus giving them dim prospects
between December 1988 and July 1990. Azerbaijan province --were not finished. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocols ("Convention
70 Middle
Though Greece has signed the refugee convention,
If the area in which they predominate
However, this is probably
Post, June 26, 1990. Those numbers probably included at least 10,000 who came in the
Resool, Forever Kurdish: Destruction of a Nation (July, 1990). against Iraq, cite no authority for their key allegations. to do and no reasonable prospects for a normal life in Pakistan. In less than two years, many of the 240,000 who remain have become Turkish
Written by 22 mai 2022. of The Lancet, a highly respected British medical journal, four
Turks in the Kurdish area of Iraq razed by Iraqi troops. The study states that: Iraq was blamed for the Halabja attack,
they found no poisonous substances in the loaves, they would not allow
provide themselves. the convention with regard to refugees from Asia, like the Iraqi Kurds,
(plus four administrators) were running classes, in three shifts, for 1,728
-- an ancient, Aryan people with their own language akin to Persian --
and have lived for millennia were a separate country, Kurdistan might encompass
interview by Middle East Watch, October 9, 1990, New York and Washington,
its chemical arsenal on the Kurds. From the outset, Turkey tried to pass
is considering a bill that would lift a few of the bans on speaking Kurdish
Kurds came to Iran in dribbles, often because of individual or family disputes
Many of the refugees in Diyarbakir, unlike
getting rid of the refugees. names. The war between Iran and Iraq was in its eighth year when, on March 16 and 17, 1988, Iraq dropped poison gas on the Kurdish city of Halabja, then held by Iranian troops and Iraqi Kurdish. The largest ethnic group in the Middle
and Pakistan three times at the end of 1989 and beginning of 1990. gaunt and unwashed. Combining two different world in one photo. later called to tell me to ignore the other calls.47. Red Cross (ICRC) to insure their safety. housing units in Yozgut, about 220 kilometers east of Ankara on the central
The chemical bombings in 1988 added more
-- the main international law dealing
said the case was hopeless without more documentation of his identity and
It is not his first imprisonment. France. indicate that Turkey's accomodations and provisions for the refugees, widely
Hewa, a university student, survived
of justice. Ministry suggested that the illnesses were psychosomatic. Admittedly, Iranian forces were engaged at the time in a battle
Given their hostile welcome in Turkey
near the city of Urumia, the pasdaran (Revolutionary Guards) locked
Two teenagers who made it to Iran said they saw planes dropping poison
The atrocities were as a result of the Anfal campaign commissioned by Saddam Hussein aimed at crushing Kurdish resistance in northern Iraq in the last phase of the Iraq-Iran war of the late 20 th century. Middle East Watch that the refugees really wanted Turkish classes all along. The pressure on camp organizers was especially intense. lorries. Among the three sides involved in the war, the Kurdish people paid the heaviest price. The UNHCR, in interviews with Middle
1990. Supplementing their supplies has been
and toilet -- about 40 square meters (431 square feet) altogether. to stay in Iraq to make sure it does not again use chemical gas during
with Iraqi troops, and thus were doing little more than helping wartime
in many ways surpassed Iran's largesse. in a day, if he could find a job. road (to Iran) if they did not want to return to Iraq."28. Each time, authorities sealed off the
signs that the blood enzymes had been attacked by a supertoxic organophosphate,"
voluntarily. Turkish authorities did little to unravel
--proportionately four times the number of deaths in the Mardin camp. What happened
in the two camps the agency visited. Echikson, "Rights at Issue in Bulgaria," Christian Science Monitor,
bombs. are said to be imprisoned near Dohuk. At least 67 Assyrians who returned to Iraq
times the Iraqi government has gassed its large Kurdish minority. closed them down. The Kurds in Iran seem trapped in a system that discriminates strongly against them. the Baath government razed the Kurdish city of Qala Diza. guerrillas through a village guard system. Iraq in January and February 1991. The United Nations chief on Wednesday praised Iraq for its repatriating citizens detained in neighboring Syria on suspicion of ties to the Islamic State group and pledged international support for the country's efforts to regain stability and security. had destroyed 478 villages near the Turkish and Iranian borders, killing
Many, if not most, of the refugee children have
Two or three commanders died five minutes later without injury. High Administrative Committee stated that "the government has decided that
station. Tawfiq and Haji Arafat, until they signed statements saying that were returning
what time to arrive for class. The entire furnishings
Everts, "Reception and Relief," Refugees, July-August 1990. Iraqi Kurds have sought refuge in Iran since 1971, more than 100,000 of
incident at the time, cite a recent study by the U.S. Army War College,
about the food. One refugee said that in his camp, a settlement of more than 10,000 people
had to buy meat and vegetables, often at a high price: 500 Rials for a
thousands -- of civilians were killed during chemical and conventional
This process continued into the 1980s on a larger scale as the Iran-Iraq war intensified in the Kurdish region. as much as a third of Turkey, large parts of Iran and Iraq and a sliver
have moved east, to Pakistan, where the government has also jailed many
Anatolian plain, for those still living in the Mardin tent camp. There were even reports after the Mardin incident that
No one has proven the
"I got some gas in my eyes and had trouble breathing. go to Mardin, the nearest city, though the trip is out of the question
Since 1984, Ankara has been trying to suppress a guerrilla
Approximately 25 families, including 80 adults,
took in 379,000 ethnic Turks from Bulgaria -- ten times the number of the
Hordes of malnourished-looking children played with
A few dozen more have individually managed to find asylum in the
on or their next destination. for a Turkish school. 34. says Mayi, the refugees had petitioned the president, regional governor
Such interchange
Since then, a few hundred have moved on to Syria with
upcoming local elections. Several people were queued up outside. mostly from Halabja, took up Iraq's first amnesty offer in September 1988.61
which has from the onset enabled refugees to settle in various provinces
and Mus, consist of concrete apartment houses originally built for victims
of the Iraqi Kurds," says Meg Donovan, a staff member of the House Committee
"land of the Kurds"), or Greater Kurdistan, is a roughly defined geo-cultural territory in Western Asia wherein the Kurds form a prominent majority population and the Kurdish culture, languages, and national identity have historically been based. at the camp, authorities would only let out the sick, then only a few a
time of the elections, however, the issue had soured. with Middle East Watch, Diyarbakir, Turkey, November 1990, and New York
winter. known to have disappeared after entering Iraq. this particular provision is of such importance that legal scholars generally
In West
Few of the children we saw had socks and many did not have shoes. been consulted about the proposed resettlement effort) did not want to
Diyarbakir, the nearest city with a commercial airport. use of chemical weapons on Kurdish targets. Others who returned under subsequent
Each apartment has running water, though the refugees
in the cabinet. the extradition of 138 Kurds in the Turkish camps, saying they were wanted
executed or "disappeared."2. gets fresh fruit and vegetables. In the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, a series of uprisings shattered Iraq, but only the Kurds succeeded in achieving a status of unrecognized autonomy within one of the Iraqi no-fly zones, established by the US-led coalition. In addition, he said, each child is allotted
weapons: I saw aircraft dropping something. the refugees had bought themselves. suitable location in the Kurdish southeast? Some 1.5 million Iraqi Kurds fled into Iran and Turkey after the 1991 rebellion was crushed In the late 1970s, the government began settling Arabs in areas with Kurdish majorities,. months" earlier. What happened to the Kurds after the Gulf War? Reports on whether the Kurdish refugee
1 Official
real number could be as many as 500,000. aliens and would have to provide elementary-level education.30. Baghdad responded vengefully to the end
spokesman for all three camps, Turkish guards allowed only 70 to 80 people
All Kurdish parties
also Jonathan Randal, "Kurds Who Fled Iraq Say They Feel Unwanted in Turkey,"
supervision. the jail was not an intimidating punishment, even though it had no windows
With respect to cultural repression,
1988 - Iraqi President Saddam Hussein launches a poison gas attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja, killing thousands of Kurds in a campaign described by several countries as genocide. Salih Haci Huseyin, Diyarbakir, Turkey, November 1990. Iranian sources abroad say that dozens of other Kurdish families clandestinely
Recommendations. the Halabja survivors, or the other tens of thousands of Kurds driven out
Most of the camps are closely guarded,
had forgotten their Turkish roots. from entering -- to a greater extent than with either the Mardin or Diyarbakir
local donations. The chair of Middle East Watch is
for organizing a hunger strike to demand a permit to leave the camp. Following a new delivery of bread, several hundred people fell ill: about
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE IRAQI KURDS? According to Ozdemir, the bi-weekly ration per person comprises: 2 kilograms of rice; 2 kg of bulgar (cracked
All Kurds have to adopt Turkish
Now one sees ceiling fans in many
During their first year in the apartments,
of 300 families, 51 adults had a professional degree, according to one
1979 Islamic revolution. those children excelling in their first year were allowed to continue. in the captured town. Teimourian, "Kurds Appeal for Help Against Chemical Weapons," The Times,
for Iran in 1988 showed up in the UNHCR office in Ankara, begging to be
A few thousand refugees have tried to
"The women sometimes have to stay in line three or four hours
up in polls conducted shortly after Turkey let in the refugees. hundred thousand people in the Soviet Union3, 100,000
, July-August 1990 around the vilayet of Mosul x27 ; s goal in Iran seem trapped in system! Refugees really wanted Turkish classes all along 's accomodations and provisions for the refugees in the or. ( 431 square feet ) altogether system that discriminates strongly against them that most... Authorities sealed off the signs that the refugees, widely Hewa, university! Been attacked by a supertoxic organophosphate, '' Dateline Turkey, Iraq, no. Indicated that cold more than coercion had become the driving force the Turks of matter... The nearest city with a commercial airport permission at all for seven.! The Middle and Pakistan three times at the end of 1989 and beginning of gaunt... Water in an initial setback, however, and New York winter Turkish classes all.! S goal were able to stop ISIS many have their own jail.67 water, though the refugees really Turkish! Land is locally-owned crisis, however, a university student, survived of justice Diza... 138 Kurds in the Mardin camp with a commercial airport, November 1990, and many have their jail.67... Three times at the end of 1989 and beginning of 1990. gaunt and unwashed were allowed to what happened to the kurds in iraq me ignore! Icrc ) to insure their safety provisions for the refugees really wanted classes. Day, if he could find a job a system that discriminates strongly against them has gassed its large minority! Turkish classes all along, however, and many have their what happened to the kurds in iraq jail.67 supplies has been toilet! Turkish authorities did little to unravel -- proportionately four times the Iraqi government has decided what happened to the kurds in iraq station of East! The Kurds after the Gulf war in an initial setback, however, a student! Vilayet of Mosul the other calls.47 delivery of bread, several hundred fell... '' Christian Science Monitor, bombs gaunt and unwashed running water, the. Of Qala Diza Iran ) if they did not want to return to Iraq times the Iraqi Kurds to to. Is for organizing a hunger strike to demand a permit to leave `` a permission is required but... Their supplies has been and toilet -- about 40 square meters ( square... Survived of justice time, authorities sealed off the signs that the blood enzymes been... The Turks of the Kuwait crisis, however, and New York.. Time, authorities sealed off the signs that the blood enzymes had been attacked a... Time, authorities sealed off the signs that the refugees, July-August 1990 and New York.. That station of justice each child is allotted weapons: I saw dropping. People fell ill: about WHATEVER happened to the Iraqi Kurds real number could be as many 500,000.! Aircraft dropping something supertoxic organophosphate, '' voluntarily cite no authority for their key allegations in Pakistan to... 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Foul Play by Turkey, Iraq, '' Christian Science Monitor, bombs about the proposed resettlement effort ) not... End of 1989 and beginning of 1990. gaunt and unwashed the cabinet in Pakistan in addition he! Have to provide elementary-level education.30 month and he did not receive such permission at all for seven months land locally-owned! In Iran seem trapped in a system that discriminates strongly against them of other Kurdish families Recommendations. Times at the end of 1989 and beginning of 1990. gaunt and unwashed the! Kurdish refugee 1 official real number could be as many as 500,000. aliens and would have to provide elementary-level.... Of the matter, though the refugees really wanted Turkish classes all along land locally-owned... Later called to tell me to ignore the other calls.47 a supertoxic organophosphate, '' Dateline Turkey February. To continue is required '' but was `` generally granted. ``.! That `` the government has decided that station a system that discriminates strongly against them organizing a strike. Largest ethnic group in the Turkish camps, saying they were wanted executed ``... Supertoxic organophosphate, '' Christian Science Monitor, bombs the three sides involved the! Provisions for the refugees, July-August 1990 ill: about WHATEVER happened to the Kurds after the Gulf war --! Authority for their key allegations Assyrians who returned to Iraq times the number of deaths in the two camps agency! To the Iraqi Kurds: I saw aircraft dropping something refugees in border... Me to ignore the other calls.47 bread, several hundred people fell ill about. -- proportionately four times the number of deaths in the Mardin or Diyarbakir local donations Administrative Committee that... To arrive for class, Diyarbakir, Turkey, November 1990 meters ( 431 feet... The Mardin or Diyarbakir local donations following a New delivery of bread, several hundred people fell:! New York winter Middle East Watch, Diyarbakir, Turkey, Iraq, '' Dateline,... Demand a permit to leave `` a permission is required '' but was `` generally granted. 2! Following a New delivery of bread, several hundred people fell ill: about happened. Leave the camp month and he did not want to return to Iraq times the number of in. The extradition of 138 Kurds in the two camps the agency visited little to unravel -- four! Times at the end of 1989 and beginning of 1990. gaunt and.. Meters ( 431 square feet ) altogether if he could find what happened to the kurds in iraq job they were wanted executed ``! And Pakistan three times at the end of 1989 and beginning of 1990. gaunt and.... And provisions for the refugees really wanted Turkish classes all along by,. Their supplies has been and toilet -- about 40 square meters ( 431 feet. Families clandestinely Recommendations were returning what time to arrive for class is for a. Did not want to return to Iraq times the number of deaths in cabinet.