Turkey: A 100 Years of Suffering from Kurdophobia
May 6, 2021, 8:12 am

Turkey: A 100 Years of Suffering from Kurdophobia

Jwan Dibo

Every so often, Turkey launches massive joint air and ground operations in Iraqi Kurdistan under the pretext of fighting Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The latest one, certainly, will not be the last one, started on 24^th April and, of course, it is still going on. The numbers, magnitude, and nature of Turkey’s consecutive operations outweigh PKK’s might and influence in Iraqi Kurdistan by dozens of times. This, in turn, reveals the latent expansionist intentions of Ankara in Kurdistan region and the real danger it poses against the federal rule in Iraq Kurdistan.

What reinforces this preliminary conclusion is that Turkey has built more than 27 military bases in the areas it occupies inside Kurdistan region. Most of these bases were built in the regions where PKK revolutionaries had no presence or activity. This demonstrates that Turkey's goal behind these very costly invasions is to stay for ever. Probably later to prepare for the formal annexation of these areas using the Turkish historical lie, which says that these areas in the past were parts of the defunct Ottoman Empire.

Historically, Turkey has never left any areas it entered through incursions and occupations. The Sanjak of Alexandretta is an example. France withdrew from it in 1939 and then Turkey invaded it and annexed it officially to its territory and even changed its name to Hatay. Currently, Turkey occupies large cities and towns in north, northwest, and northeast Syria and it deals with these areas as if they are already original parts of Turkey.

Turkish military operations in Iraqi Kurdistan and later in Syrian Kurdistan have increased significantly since Erdogan and his party came to power in 2002. More precisely since Erdogan became the president of Turkey in 2014 and then the absolute ruler in 2017.

Anti-Kurdish sentiment, also known as anti-Kurdism or Kurdophobia is considered a hot material for mobilisation and polarisation of voters in Turkey. Erdogan and his party, Justice and Development Party (AKP) have become experts at playing on this sensitive and feasible string in Turkey.

The overt argument is fighting against Kurdish terrorists and separatists in Turkey’s Kurdistan, Iraq’s Kurdistan, and Syria’s Kurdistan. But the hidden - declared goal is to battle and undermine Kurdish aspirations for freedom and independence inside and outside Turkey. On this basis, Erdogan formed an alliance with the Nationalist Movement Party, known for its extreme hostility to the Kurds. Both parties have nothing in common but anti-Kurds and thwarting all their endeavours to obtain rights inside and outside Turkey.

General elections in Turkey, both presidential and parliamentary, are due in 1923, if early elections are not held due to the multifaceted crises afflicting Turkey because of Erdogan's impetuous policies. The anti-Kurd card, ostensibly wrapped in anti-PKK, is a trump card prior and during the election campaigns. Especially, since Erdogan's popularity in Turkey is continuously declining. Therefore, he seeks, with his hard-line nationalist ally, Devlet Bahçeli, to use anti-Kurd card inside and outside Turkey to attract Turkish constituents.

Internally, most of the leaders of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) are in prison as well as many of its representatives in parliament and mayors. Externally, the systematic exaggeration of PKK threat and the menace of independent inclination of the leadership of Iraqi Kurdistan continues apace. Military operations allegedly against PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan are continuing. In other words, the claimed Kurdish threat is being fought inside and outside border. Erdogan seeks to cover up his internal failures by directing attention outside Turkey, viz., Kurdish old-new allegedly threat against Turkish national security.

Erdogan is racing against time and plans to achieve a lot by 2023, when Turkey gets rid of the restrictions of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, as he claims. Therefore, he works on more than one level and on more than one front. Turkey keeps Interfering in the affairs of neighbouring as well as distant states, occupying large areas in Iraq and Syria, including Kurdish areas. Erdogan simply seeks to restore some of the bygone glories of his Ottoman ancestors, even if that is at the expense of others' suffering and spilling their blood.

Erdogan, the Islamist, like Mustafa Kemal, the secularist, and most of the Turkish leaders between the two periods, suffers from a chronic Kurdish phobia that extends for about a hundred years, if not more.

The former Turkish Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, said that "we will fight an independent Kurdish state even if it appears in South Africa". Erdogan has improved this systematic policy as follows; Turkey will fight any Kurdish ambitions to obtain rights even if they are less than independence and even if these endeavours will occur on the moon. Perhaps the essential distinction between Ecevit and Erdogan is that the latter is now targeting Kurdish existence itself, as a people and a nation.

by: Jwan Dibo

Jwan Dibo

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.