1. Kurdish minority Ethnic group or a nation?

2. General info  Indo-European (Iranian)  ~23 million  Divided among 3+ countries; most in Turkey  About 400 sq km

3. People  Tribal, family is the core  Predominantly rural  Sunni, but significant Yazidi, Alevi and Sufi groups  Language: Kurdish (with dialects)

4. History  Sumerian inscriptions  Arab, Mongol, Turkish, Turkomen influences  Sevres (1920): autonomous Kurdistan  Lausanne (1923): division of Kurdistan between the neighbouring countries Kurdish nationalism

5. Today they live in  Laicised Turkey  Shia Iran  Arab/Sunni Iraq  Sunni Northern Syria  Ex-Soviet Transcaucasia

6. Politically  Newly recognized in Iraq (but were opressed)  Kurdistan recognized in Iran (but should assimilate)  Turks of Kurdish origin in Turkey / Moutain Turks (Eastern Anatolia)  Province of Djazira in Syria