Cultural Trends & Identity

Duhok as Sulaimani’s Polar Opposite: Why Only 3% of Kurdistan’s Protests Have Been in Duhok Despite Its 27% Share of the Population

In the Kurdistan Region, the stark differences in civic and cultural dynamics between Sulaimani and Duhok are well known. Public…

Is the Misak-ı Millî Becoming the Blueprint for a Turkish–Kurdish Regional Alliance?

Yesterday, Yeni Yaşam, a leading pro-PKK newspaper, referenced a proposal made by Abdullah Öcalan in 2013 and connected it to…

Two Visions: How Iraqi Kurds View Their Relationship with Baghdad

The Kurdish relationship with Baghdad has long oscillated between partnership and confrontation, autonomy and estrangement. After two decades of post-2003…

Written by

Arivan

Turkey’s Emerging Kurd-Inclusive National Order

The political order emerging in Turkey since 2016 has been built around the narrative of existential threats, emphasizing the idea that the Turkish state and nation were under siege from…
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Arivan

Why did the PKK burn its weapons during today’s disarmament ceremony?

The long-awaited ceremonial disarmament of PKK fighters took place today in Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region. This symbolic event involved 30 fighters participating in what the organization described as a “goodwill gesture”…
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Arivan

Fierce Clashes Erupt Between Harki Tribe and KDP Security Forces in Western Erbil

Fierce clashes have broken out between a faction of the Harki tribe and KDP security forces in Erbil’s western Khabat district, after an attempt by security forces to arrest Khurshid…
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Arivan

Tribal Clash Over KRG Pipeline Exposes Fragile Patronage Network Behind KDP Rule

Yesterday, violent clashes erupted between two tribes in western Erbil province over a stretch of land through which the KRG oil pipeline passes, shedding light on the complex tribal partnerships…
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Arivan

US Quietly Anchors PKK Disarmament Process Through SDF-Syria Deal

The PKK’s first practical step toward disarmament is expected to take place between July 10 and 12, according to the group’s spokesperson, Zagros Hiwa. This symbolic ceremony will involve fewer…
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Arivan

Damascus Church Bombing Sparks Blame Game Between Syrian Government and SDF Over al-Hol Camp

The Syrian government has accused perpetrators of the deadly Damascus church bombing of originating from the SDF-controlled al-Hol camp, prompting a sharp rebuttal from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which…
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Arivan

Ranking Iran’s Kurdish Opposition: Strategic Depth, Networks, and Potential

None of the Iranian Kurdish factions commands large fighting forces, so their comparative strength is not measured in numbers alone. Rather, the defining metric is strategic depth – encompassing geographic…
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