Debate on Kurdish-Azerbaijani Turkish Relations

Dr. Amir Matin's View
On the topic of relationship between Azeri Turks and Kurds in Iran:
I have to clarify that many of my best friends are Azeri Turks and I have maintained very close relationship with them. Kurds and Azeri Turks are intertwined in the Iranian Kurdistan and any attempt at creating a Kurdish self-rule enclave in the region should very carefully consider this fact. I personally believe Azeri Turks have the capability to either help creating a strong and viable Kurdish autonomy in the region or simply destroying it. Kurdish leaders should work very hard on this issue to establish mutual understandings and close collaboration and coordination with Azeri Turk representatives. The situation in Iran is much more complicated than Kirkuk, because Azeri Turks are much more populous than Kurds in Iran, have a strong grasp on Iranian government and diverge in religion with primarily Sunni Kurds. Without their support, a Kurdish self rule in the region will not be viable unless if we give up most of the Kurdish region (Mukrian) located in Azarbaiejan Gharbi.
After the revolution in Iran, Azeri Turks remained extremely unsympathetic to Kurdish claims for autonomy and their plight. In several cases, Azeri Turks were quite hostile to Kurds during that period and used to mock Kurds on these demands. I remember not being comfortable to go to Azeri Turk cities fearing to be beaten up if they find out about my ethnicity. Kurds were intimidated and sometimes beaten in Turkish cities located in close proximity of Kurdish cities. You would be safer in Tabriz as it was far from Kurdish cities. Unfortunately, Iranian regime was far more successful in playing the Shiaa card with Azeri Turks than Kurdish leaders in playing the minority rights card with them. To set the record right, I have to disagree with the statement that both Kurds and Azeri are to be blamed equally for the bloodshed in Naghadeh. This is distortion of history to please Azeri Turks and I do not believe it is the right thing to do. Azeri Turks and Iranian regime should accept responsibility for it and other atrocities against Kurds. As far as I personally witnessed Kurds were acting in self defense. Kurds showed a respectable self control during the whole period of conflict with the Iranian regime. While Kurdish cities were being bombed by Iranian Airplanes and rockets and Kurdish villages were being raided and razed, Kurdish youngsters were being arrested and executed by Iranian army, Pasdars and Basijis staffed in large with local Azeri Turks such as Hassani and his gangs, Kurds never launched offensive attacks again neighboring Turkish cities although in many cases they were in their fire range. Kurds never launched a (suicide) bombing campaign in Azeri Turk cities to show the bitter taste of terror that Kurds were experiencing first hand. I think it was an admirable attitude and Kurds should be commanded for that rather than being considered equally responsible. Just look at the nature of resistance in Iraq and Israel with all those suicide bombings taking innocent lives. Fortunately, Kurds in Iran never descended to that level.
Again, I do not attempt at singling out Azeri Turks as Iranian regime played the same game with Kermanshahis and used them against the Kurdish movement if Sanandaj region. In that case although most of the Basijis and Pasdars from Kermanshah were Kurds, they were Shiaa too and regime was successful in playing that card very well completely overshadowing the ethnic identity. Therefore, I argue it is not a question of being Kurd or Azeri Turk, but it is a question of dirty politics played by the Iranian regime.
Today, the Shiaa stock is devaluation very quickly and I do not think government can use it as a strong card anymore. Kurdish leaders in Iran should establish bilateral understanding with Azeri Turks based on the mutual needs for freedom of culture, language and right to self determination and sway them away from ethnicity and religious tendencies that impose an surmountable wall between Kurds and Turks in Iran. It is a hard task but achievable. They should also do their homework and ensure to bring Kermanshah and its surroundings on board with the movement.
Posted by: Dr. Amir Matin, Canada September 15, 2006 03:47 PM
Source:http://blog.washingtonpost.com/postglobalinbox/2006/08/republic_of_kurdistan.html