The Peaceful Tradition of Kurdish Weaving

Kurdistan: Woven by Tradition

The Kurdish Mainlands have been the home of many merchants and weavers, who have passed down their skills for countless generations. Over time, as with many areas with numerous people sharing the same art, the Kurdish-produced rugs attained their own style, slightly differentiating them from those produced elsewhere. This ran a perfect parallel to the Kurdish population, which developed a strong cultural divide from the areas around it, due to the influence of the silk road, as well as the geographical features surrounding the area. The status of Kurdistan as an autonomous entity, however, has been an increasingly difficult arrangement. Pressure from Iran, Iraq and Turkey, whose borders run through the geoculturally defined area, have caused a significant amount of conflict around Kurdistan, and have resulted in the discrimination of those of Kurdish descent. Despite these troubles, Kurdistan has somehow managed to stay in one piece thanks to their unique language and culture. 

While the Kurdish people were once very prosperous, trading along the Silk road, with trade established both east and west, they have come upon hard times. Now being mostly absorbed by Turkey, Iran and Iraq, much of their potential market has been changed to the industrial centers located far away from the Kurdish mainlands. This position is not ideal, as it is very hard to partake in the economy when cut off from it to such an extent. Many Kurds have been forced away from the artistic weaving traditions that have existed in their families for generations, pushed into agriculture in order to stay afloat. One may wonder what steps countries like Turkey, Iran and Iraq have taken to help Kurdistan maintain relevance in an increasingly harsh economic climate, and the answer is, surprisingly, not much. While Kurdistan is technically an autonomous state, its lands are officially recognized as parts of other, larger countries, so why hasn't anything been done to help out the Kurdish people, especially when "the integration of [Kurdistan] into the economy can [...] bring about a renaissance for the entire community" -Todd Lane ? The truth is, Kurdistan's wealth of artistic skill and economic value has been ignorantly cast aside throughout history. Discrimination of the Kurds dates back to the 1930's Ottoman Empire, when the Kurdish were systematically forced out of their homelands, with an estimated 700,000 displaced. Of those 700,000, roughly half eventually died, due to the difficulties of being thrown from their traditional homes. All is not lost, however, as the Kurdish plight is becoming a much more well known issue, and actions taken to discriminate against them have been met with harsh criticism by people all over the world. In addition to greater awareness for their cause, the Kurdish People have the support of new programs set up by the Kurdish Textile Museum to provide employment opportunities for women in poor economic situations.

As a global community, we should reflect on what the Kurdish people have been through, and what keeps them together. The borders established by Kurdistan's culture are stronger than any army, because they are made of something more than what you can see. Kurdistan's bonds are the peaceful, communal traditions that refuse to die, and continue to drive their people to peacefully coexist in the face of discrimination.

Sources
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