The Kurdish New Year, or ‘Newroz’, falls on 21 March every year and thousands in the UK as well as millions across the world celebrated it. The date seems an appropriate occasion to reflect on this passing of yet another dramatic year for Kurds, who continue to find themselves at the centre of regional upheavals. Many Kurds and their allies each year use the opportunity of the attention the celebration brings to call for much-needed peace and democracy in the Kurdish regions, and this year the need is as great as ever.
The bloody conflicts in Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria are showing no signs of abating. The latter two in particular are drawing in ever more actors into a violent mess. US troops are now on the ground in Rojava (northern Syria), supporting their Kurdish allies, for which the Kurds are undoubtedly grateful. Yet the fact that we have to come to this point is itself cause for alarm.
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