Ancient History
Origin: Kurds are reported to be the descendants of many settlers in their current homeland. Their ancestors include Guti, Kurti, Mede, Mard, Carduchi, Gordyene, Adianbene, Zila and Khaldi.BC: Ancient written historical tablets indicates that along other smaller kingdoms and city states the Guti’s kingdoms began around 2300 BC and the Medes kingdom around 1100 BC.
7th century: First record of Kurdish writing.
7th- 18th Century:
7th-9th centuries: Through the expansion of a new religion in the area most Kurds converted from their original belief system to Islam to the point that believers of Yaresan, Zorasterian, Ezidi and Elewi are in a minority today.
10th-12th centuries: Emergence of Kurdish principalities to the north Chaddadides (951-1174), to the south the Hassanwaihides (959-1015), and to the west the Merwanides (990-1096) with their capital in Diyarbakir.
1169- 1250: The Kurdish Ayubid dynasty, founded by Salahadin, expanded from Middle East to North Africa.
14th-15th centuries: Following the tidal wave of the invasion by Mongols, Kurdish principalities started to reconstitute.
1596: Sheref Khan, prince of Bitlis, completed Sharafnameh, the first book on Kurdish history.
1695: Ehmede Khani (born 1651), poet, philosopher, and linguist, publishes his epic Mem-o-Zin, a saga of the Kurdish people calling for the creation of a united national states of Kurdistan.
19th Century:
19th century: The Kurdish feudalists rise against the Ottomans in a series of disconnected revolts (1806). Apart from a few provinces annexed to Persia, all Kurdish territories come under firm Ottoman rule.
1898: The First bilingual (Kurdo-Turk) journal, Kurdistan, appears and begins to propagate the idea of a Kurdistan national liberation movement under the editorship of the Bedr-Khan’s in Cairo.
Early 20th Century
1908: The Young Turks Revolt begin to apply repressive policies against non- Turkish peoples, including the Albanians, Armenians, and Kurds.
1910: The Hewa (Hope) society is founded in Kurdistan (Northern Iraq).
1920: In the aftermath of World War I, Britain is given a mandate over Arab Iraq and the Kurdish vilayet (administrative region) of Mosul, “ceded” by France in exchange for Cilicia. In San Remo Conference (4/19-26/1920) creating separate Armenian and Kurdish states in the territories which had originally been allocated to Russia were discussed.
1919-1920: The first Kurdish revolt against the British occupation of southern Kurdistan (Iraq), led by Sheikh Mahmoud.
1920: The treaty of Sevres (Aug. 10, 1920) confirms the borders defined at San Remo. Section II (articles 62-64) envisages the creation of a Kurdish state on the Kurdish territory.
1921: The French and Turks sing the Ankara Agreement (Oct. 20, 1921). France takes the Kurdish provinces of Jezireh and Kurd Dagh which are annexed under the Syrian mandate.
8/27/1921: Sir Percy Cox, the British high commissioner of Mesopotamia, prevents the throne of Iraq to Emir Faisal, son of the sheriff of Mecca, whom the French had just expelled from Syria. The Kurds of Mosul boycott the plebiscite organized to “elect” Faisal under the banner “Since when are kings elected”?
1923: Sheikh Mahmoud leads a second revolt proclaims himself “king of Kurdistan” and establishes contact with Simko, the leader since 1920 of a Kurdish revolt against the Persian domination. The movement is repressed by the British Army, and the sheikh is exiled to India.
3/ 3/1923: The seal is set on the annexation of most of Kurdistan by the new Turkish Republic, led by its founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The headwaters of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers emanate in Kurdistan, so the Kurds also lose any share of their ancestral water riches.
3/3/1924: A Turkish decree bans all Kurdish schools, organizations, and publications, along with the religious fraternities (tekke) and religious schools (medresse).
1925: Sheikh Said starts a new revolt .
2-4/1925: The council of the League of Nations accepts the British claims to annex southern Kurdistan (Mosul and Kirkuk) under the Iraqi mandate thereby robbing the Kurds their ancestral claims to that oil rich area.
8/1927: Khoyboun (Independence), the Kurdish National league, is founded to bring together all Kurdish political parties and organizations following World War I.
Mid 20th Century
1924-1935: Newly established Attaturk Republic in Turkey conducted the policy of genocide of the Kurdish people in which three quarter of a million Kurds lost their lives..
1928: The entire civil and military administration of Kurdistan in Turkey is entrusted to the inspector general of the East, the Turkish high commissioner for Kurdistan. Revolts erupt throughout the Kurdish provinces.
6/1930: Simko, the leader of the Kurdish revolt against the central authority of Perisa since 1920, is assassinated during talks with representatives of Tehran.
1931: Revolts break out in Iranian Kurdistan under Jafar Sultan and in Iraqi Kurdistan under Sheikh Mahmoud Berzenji.
5/1932: Ankara promulgates a law for the deportation and dispersion of the hundreds of thousands of Kurds to non Kurdish western Turkey following a fascist trend in Germany and Italy to depopulate areas with restive minorities.
1933: The Kurds rise up in Iraq, led by Mullah Mustafa Barzani, .
1936-1938: Repression in Turkey led to an armed resistance by the Kurds in the Dersim area..
1941: Komeley Jianewey Kurd (KJK) -Kurdish Resurrection Society- founded by a group of Kurdish intellectuals in the city of Mehabad (Iranian part of Kurdistan), a secret society advocating Kurdish national rights.
1943-1945: Kurdish revolt in Iraq continues under the leadership of Mullah Mustafa Barzani, who is eventually forced to retreat into Iranian Kurdistan. 1945 Memorandum addressed by Kurds to the United Nations Constitutive Assembly outlining national claims.
8/1945: KJK changed name to Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran (KPDI), the constitution was altered from Kurdish national rights and self determination to limited cultural, economic and political rights within the political boundaries of Iran.
1/13/1946: The first Kurdish republic is proclaimed at Mehabad , under the presidency of Qazi Muhemmed. It was destroyed in spring of 1947 by the Iranian army and the American CIA.
3/1947: The leaders of the Mahabad Kurdish Republic are hanged by the Iranian government at dawn, in downtown Mehabad.
8/1953: A coupe organized by the American CIA brings the Shah of Iran back to power from exile.
1956: Under the aegis of US and Britain Turkey, Iran, and Iraq sign the Baghdad Pact, creating a more coordinated defense against the disparate Kurdish revolts and movements.
6/14/1958: A military coup led by General Kassem overthrows the Iraqi monarchy, denounced Baghdad Pact (later replaced by CENTO Pact) and proclaimed Iraq based on free society of Kurds and Arabs. General Barzani returns from exile in the USSR.
5/27/1960: A military coup overthrows the Menderes government in Turkey.
9/11/1961: Beginning of a Kurdish armed uprising in Iraq, led by Mullah Mustafa Barzani. The Iraqi army launches its first major offensive against the Kurds in mountainous terrain.
6/18/1963: The Soviet Foreign Minister Andre Gromiko sends a note to the ambassadors of Iran, Turkey, Syria and Iraq warning their governments not to launch a joint military intervention in Iraqi Kurdistan. Turkey and Iran give up Operation Tiger, the planned link up with Iraqi and Syrian troops engaged in Kurdistan.
2/10/1964: Marshal Aref, commander of Iraqi armed forces fighting the Kurdish uprising, recognizes Kurdish national rights.
3/1965: Military Operations begin again in Iraq and continue until the second cease-fire in June 1966.
Late 20th Century
1967-1968: Headed by one hundred members of Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran, Kurdish peasants wage tactical guerrilla war in Iranian Kurdistan. After 18 months of operation it was suppressed by Iranian heavy artillery from the army and air force.
6/30/1968: Saddam Hussein becomes deputy chairman of the Revolutionary Command Coucil of the Ba’ath Party in Iraq, and his portfolio is expanded to head internal security.
8/8/1969: The Kurdish village of Dakan in Mosul, Iraq is the scene of a major arm atrocity. The war against the Kurds in Iraq is steeped up.
1969: Komala was formed by a group of Kurdish intellectuals in Iranian Kurdistan, which had an impact on workers and peasants movement in Iran.
3/11/1970: The Kurds and the Iraqi government sign an agreement on the “autonomy of Kurdistan” to be implemented within four years, and the fighting stops.
3/12/1970: In what is regarded as the most brutal military coup in modern Turkey, center left and left-wing democratic parties and organizations are outlawed en masse. Thousands of Kurdish separatists and nationalists, students, trade unionists, and members of intelligentsia are among those arrested and brought before special military tribunals.
Spring 1972: Alliances are switched, in an effort to isolate Kurdish movement at home and abroad, the Iraqi government signs a friendship and cooperation treaty with the USSR erstwhile ally of Kurds. Discretely encouraged by the US, Iran decides to back the Kurds.
3/1974: Following the collapse of the 1970 Kurdish autonomy accords in Iraq, war breaks out. The Kurdish towns of Zakho and Qala Diza are razed to the ground. Hundreds of thousands of Kurds flee the cities and brutalities break all previous records.
3/6/1975: The Algiers Agreement between the Iraqi Ba’ath Party headed by Saddam Hussein and the Shah’s regime in Iran is promulgated. Iraq formally concedes to Iranian territorial demands in return for the Shah ending support for the Iraqi Kurdish rebels. With their supply lines cut, the Kurdish resistance crumbles and the Iraqi government launches its policy of mass deportations and resettlement.
June 1976: A new phase of guerilla operation is started in Iraqi Kurdistan.
6/1979: Saddam Hussien becomes president of Iraq.
8/17/1979: Ayatollah Khomeini declares war on the Kurds. The Iranian Islamic Army reoccupies every Kurdish town.
9-10/1979 Kurdish guerrilla operations are carried out throughout Iranian Kurdistan.
8/15/1984: The PKK starts its guerrilla warfare against the Turkish state in southeastern Anatolia.
3/1988: “The Massacre of the Innocents” Iraq uses chemical weapons in the Iraqi Kurdish town of Halabja and over 5,000 Kurds perish in one afternoon. This marks the beginning of the Anfal, a genocidal campaign against the Kurds of Iraq, which eventually took more than 180,000 lives and destroyed over 4,000 Kurdish towns and villages.
7/1988: Assassination of Dr. Qassemlou, the leader of KDP-Iran in Vienna, where he was about to enter into peace talks with Iranian representatives.
Aug 1988: Kurdish Americans formed Kurdish National Congress of North America in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
3/91/1991: In the aftermath of the Gulf War and the failed uprising of the Iraqi Kurds against the battered Iraqi regime, Saddam’s forces attack Kurds and send over one million fleeing to the mountains of Iran and Turkey.
4/1991: The U.S- led Allied Peratino Provide Comfort begins setting up camps and bringing supplies to hundreds of thousands of Kurds stranded in the mountains. A “safe haven” is established by the United States and Britain above the 36th parallel in Iraq and the tenuous birth of Iraqi Kurdistan follows.
3/1992: The massacre of Kurdish town people in Cizre by the Turkish army during Newroz (New year’s) celebrations.
3/1992: The war between PKK and Turkish troops brought over 5,000 deaths since 1984.
3/1992: Turkish armed forces move into Iraqi Kurdistan and with the approval of the Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga, a joint operation against the PKK guerrillas commences. The PKK encircled agrees to lay down arms and surrender to the Peshmerga, Iraqi Kurdish leadership allows unarmed PKK guerrillas to remain in designated mountain camps in the region.
6/1992: Democratic elections are held in Iraqi Kurdistan. Thousands wait for hours at polling stations to cast their ballots. The Kurds create the only democratic parliament and government in the region but must continue to endure Iraqi threats and a stifling embargo by Baghdad of fuel and food supplies.
9/1992: KDP and PUK representatives take part in the newly-established Iraqi National Congress (INC), which brings together a wide-range of Iraqi opposition groups, meets in Salah-al-Din in the Kurdish-held north.
9/1992: Assasination of Dr. Saeed Sharafkandi, the new leader of KDP-Iran during peace talks with Iranian representatives in Mykonous Restaurant in Berlin, Germany
3/1993: Abdullah Ocalan leader of the PKK announces a unilateral cease fire with Turkey. Stating that he wants to seek a political solution, he urges the Turkish government to introduce a federal system that would give Kurds more political influence.
6/1993: The Turkish government in Ankara ignores the PKK’s peace overtures and resumes attacks on Kurdish guerrilla camps along the Iranian border.
7/1993: Kurdish militants under the direction of the PKK, launch attacks and take hostages at Turkish consulates, embassies, and businesses across Europe. They give up after one day but claim success at having garnered worldwide media attention.
1993: People’s Workers party, a pro Kurdish party (HEP) was outlawed by the constitutional court in Turkey.
5/1994: Clashes between KDP and PUK forces started.
1992-1993: More than sixteen journalists are killed in southeastern Turkey while covering the Kurdish situation.
11/1993: The PKK is banned in Germany and France. All PKK offices raided by police and activities of Kurdistan Solidarity Committee halted.
1993: All Turkish newspapers, magazines, and other publications banned from mentioning or interviewing PKK members.
1/1994: All leaves suspended for Turkish military personnel, including the highest ranking officers.
1995: The PKK organize a “Peace Train” to set off from Cologne (Germany) for a final destination in Diyarbekir. The train was stopped in Turkey
4/1995: Foundation of the Democracy party (DEP). Foundation of Kurdistan Parliment in Exile in Holland. Turkey protested before the Dutch government and recalled its ambassador.
5/1996: A UN Memorandum of Understanding with the Iraqi government launches the “Oil-for-Food” program. Under the agreement, 13% of the proceeds from Iraqi oil exports are earmarked for the three northern governorates, which are largely under Kurdish control.
09/1998: Ocalan leaves Syria secretly heading for Russia. A month Later he arrives in Italy. Most HADEP (a pro Kurdish party) leaders are arrested.
9/1998: Jalal Talabani and Massoud Barzani sign a peace agreement.
1998: Foundation of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNC) by 20 Kurdish organization from all over Kurdistan and more than 100 personalities.
15/02/1999: After Ocalan had left Italy in Mid January secretly, in a covert operation by the Turkish secret service, CIA, Israeli, Greek and Kenyan secret services, he is arrested in Nairobi and brought back to Turkey the same day.
21st Century:
9/2001: Fighting breaks out between the PUK and the fundamentalist Ansar al-Islam supported by Iran.
6/2002: PUK and KDP officials take part in joint discussions with other Iraqi groups aimed at coordinating the work of the opposition in the event of a US-led military campaign against Iraq.
10/2002: Joint session of the Kurdish parliament convenes in Arbil. KDP and PUK parliamentarians agree to work together during a “transitional session” until new elections can be held.
2/2003: Kurdish leaders reject proposals to bring Turkish troops into northern Iraq as part of a US-led military campaign to oust Saddam Hussein. Anti-Turkish demonstrators take to the streets of Kurdish towns.
3/2003: KDP and PUK create a “joint higher leadership” in the Kurdish-held north, under the chairmanship of the two party leaders, Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani.
3/2003: US, with help of Britain lead “Operation Free Iraq” and invade Iraq from North and South. Kurdish soldiers (peshmerge forces) from Kurdish Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan play active role in liberation of Iraq from the Baath Party and toppling Saddam Hussein’s regime.
4/9/2003: US forces advance into central Baghdad. Saddam Hussein’s grip on the city is broken. In the following days Kurdish fighters and US forces take control of the northern cities of Kirkuk and Mosul. There is widespread looting in the capital and other cities.
2/2004: Fundamentalist killed several senior political figures on a double suicide bombing at the offices of the two main political Kurdish parties in Arbil.
12/2004: On 22 December 2004, a Kurdish delegation met with U.N. Electoral Assistance Division, to deliver 1,732,535 signatures, which had been collected endorsing the call for a referendum on the future of Southern Kurdistan.
1/30/2005: Over 90% of eligible voter in the Kurdistan of Iraq participated in a historic election. Along side the Iraqi election, Kurdish Referendum Movement coordinated a referendum in which 1,973,412 people, or 98.7 percent of respondents voted for an independent Kurdistan.
March 10, 2005: Amnesty International requested from Syrian government an immediate end to human rights violations against the Kurds.
April, 6, 2005: Jalal Talabani, the leader of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan was elected as the first Kurdish President of Iraq.
May 20, 2005: Although Europe’s human rights court ruled that prosecution of Ocalan, in 1999 was unfair, Turkey’s Foreign Minister insisted that the Kurdish PKK leader will not be retried.
June 9, 2005: The National Assembly of Kurdistan endorsed Massoud Barzani, the leader of Kurdistan Democratic Party in Iraq as the president of Kurdish Regional Government in Southern Kurdistan.
June 25, 2005: According to Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, one of the members of a team who in 1988 had been directly involved in the assassination of Kurdish leader, Dr. Ghassemlou, was elected as the president of Iran.
July 13, 2005: After a peaceful demonstration in commemoration of Dr. Qassemlou Eastern Kurdistan fell under the increased pressure of Iranian security forces. The security forces interrogated, tortured, and shot a young Kurdish activist, Mr Shwane Qaderi, then dragged him behind a truck on the streets of the city of Mahabad. This event led to escalation of anti government activities in Eastern Kurdistan as well as escalation of arrests of Kurdish intellectuals and human right activists.
Oct. 15, 2005: Southern Kurdistan participated in voting for an Iraqi constitution, hoping it will grant them lawmaking powers, control over their 60,000 pishmargas, and authority over oil and gas in the region.
Nov 2005: Kurdish National Congress of North America, held a conference on Kurdish Independence at two of the Universities in Southern Kurdistan.
Dec 2005: The National Democratic Rally (NDR), made up of socialists, nationalists, liberals, Kurds and others drew up the so-called “Damascus Declaration” in October, inviting the Syrian people to work peacefully for radical change.
Dec 15, 2005: Southern Kurdistan participated in Iraqi election; The Kurdish lists included Kurdistan Alliance 730, Yekgertu KIU 561, and Democratic Solution Party 779.
Dec 2005: Mayors of 56 Kurdish cities in Eastern Anatolia collectively protested in a letter against the pressure of Turkish state not to to close down Roj TV, a popular Kurdish TV station in Europe.
Jan 2006: A reformist Kurdish front was formed in Eastern Kurdistan.
Jan 7, 2006: Unification of the two administration in Southern Kurdistan.
Main References:
www.kurdistanica.com/english/history/histroy-frame.html
www.edkashi.com/ekurds.html
www.kurdistanobserver.com
www.kurdishmedia.com