The Kurdish Confl ict in Turkey: A Brief Revision to an Intricate and Long-Lasting Ethnic Matter

Abstract

The Kurdish confl ict in Turkey relies on several issues that can be traced to ethnic and religious concerns. Turkey is a secular state and also an Islamic nation, and as the principles of Islam are intrinsically linked to politics, it is undeniable the infl uence it has in a country like Turkey where almost the entirety of its population are Sunni Muslims. As Kurds are considered part of the Muslim community, its treatment as a minority group diff ers: they are assimilated as Muslims while obviating their ethnic identity. Th is article aims to give insight into the complex Kurdish confl ict in Turkey.