Attacks carried out by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), ISIS, and paramilitary groups under Turkey’s control against Rojava have triggered a national response among Kurds that transcends political parties. This reaction has once again brought the issue of Kurdish national unity, long discussed but rarely translated into concrete steps, back to the forefront of Kurdish politics. The common reflex that emerged in the face of these attacks has also strengthened calls for dialogue and coordination among Kurdish actors representing different political tendencies.
Ahmet Kaya, Chair of the Party for Humanity and Freedom (PIA–Partiya Însan û Azadî), spoke to ANF about the significance of national unity for the Kurdish people.
National unity is indispensable for sustaining life
Ahmet Kaya stated that national unity for the Kurdish people is not merely a political preference but a necessity as vital as a biological need.
Kaya said: “For Kurds, the importance of national unity is comparable to how essential water, bread, and air are in an individual’s life. Just as these are indispensable for sustaining life, the existence of national unity is equally valuable and vital for Kurds, especially in this period. In other words, beyond its importance, it is truly a matter of survival.”
Kaya also said that the reaction shown during the Kobanê process has now evolved into a more “professional” and “above-party” dimension.
He also said: “With its media and all segments of society, a response emerged that transcended factions and political circles. Even groups that were never expected to speak out raised their voices. Because Kurds are now certain of one thing: these attacks are not carried out because of anything Kurds have done, but simply because they insist on living freely in their own homeland. Everyone with a conscience has stood united with the Kurds against these attacks.”
We must ensure that we remain together
Kaya stated that the attacks have created a “unifying force” on issues where Kurdish political actors had struggled for years to convince one another at the negotiating table.
Kaya said: “On an issue where we tried to persuade one another theoretically for years, the attacks of Kurdish enemies brought all Kurds together. All differences were set aside, and people united. Why? Because in theory we already possess this awareness: that Kurds being together, despite all their differences, is possible and far more valuable. Practice has now imposed this reality on us. From now on, what must be done is to preserve this spirit. Without waiting for new attacks, we must ensure that we remain together through common demands, shared plans, programs, and projects.”
Politics must not fall behind the people
Kaya said the public’s awareness of unity is more advanced than that of political actors, and continued: “Our politics always says, ‘Our people are ahead of us.’ This is a positive pressure created by the people in politics. If the people’s demand is national unity, then politicians must respond to that pressure. However, if politics resists this point, the gap widens. What Kurdish movements must do is identify the will of the people and take courageous steps in that direction. The first step that needs to be taken today is to come together at regular intervals and operate consultation mechanisms. We must evaluate the course of the world, the risks, and the opportunities with a common mind.”
We must activate collective wisdom
Ahmet Kaya also offered self-criticism regarding Kurdish politics and emphasized the importance of a culture of “sharing” in overcoming the problem of trust. Kaya said: “Kurdish politics must learn how to share its achievements more effectively. When a group is represented in governing authority, even symbolically, belittling it by saying ‘They are not even a handful of people’ is dangerous. That traps us in factionalism. The path to communication and diplomacy passes through the sharing of practice. If there is a lack in sharing, a problem of trust emerges; and where there is no trust, the national unity we seek cannot be realized. We must free ourselves from the anxiety of ‘Are we being deceived?’ and, with self-confidence, activate our collective wisdom.”
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