Latest posts by Ruwayda Mustafah
Turkey’s ‘Kurdish Question’ on Fire Again
The AKP-led peace between Turkey and Kurdish militants brokered in late 2012 seems like a distant memory amid an upsurge of violence.
Photo of Peshmerga Combatant Breastfeeding Her Child Captivates Kurdish Media
Kurdish media outlets are abuzz with a photograph of a Peshmerga woman, sitting beside an automatic weapon, breastfeeding her child. The picture has been widely distributed on social networking sites, highlighting the strength of Kurdish women and the resilience of female combatants in the ongoing fight against ISIS. In contrast...
Kurds Blame Arab Refugees for Deadly Suicide Bombing in Capital Erbil
Some social media users are pointing the finger at South Kurdistan's influx of refugees after an unusual suicide car bombing killed five people on Wednesday.
Western Media Is Obsessed With Kurdish Female Fighters Battling ISIS
Social networking sites are abuzz with pictures of female Peshmergas. However, there are dozens of examples which illustrate women fighters are not new, but have existed within Kurdish communities historically.
Is Öcalan Key to Kurdish Negotiations with Turkey?
Hundreds of Kurdish political prisoners have been on hunger strike in Turkey for 67 days. They demanded an end to a founding member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Öcalan's isolation, and to allow the use of the Kurdish language in public spaces without discrimination. None of these demands have been met, but surprisingly a statement from Öcalan has been made, where he calls for an end to hunger strikes according to his brother Mehmet Öcalan.
Turkish Police Use Tear-Gas Against Protesting Mothers
Kurdish political prisoners have reached their 55th day of hunger strike. There are hundreds of political prisoners on hunger strike in Turkey, and this has led to solidarity protests throughout Europe, and in particular within Turkey. Earlier yesterday, the mothers of some of the political prisoners staged a sit-in, and were met with tear-gas, as well as water canisters was sprayed directly on them. Kurds around the world speak up against the silent treatment to their plight.
Turkey: Silent Treatment of Hunger Strike met with Anger by Kurds
Hundreds of Kurdish political prisoners in Turkey have entered an indefinite hunger strike. The non-violent protest has gone unnoticed by international media agencies and human rights organisations.
Turkey: Hundreds of Kurdish Political Prisoners go on Hunger Strike
Hundreds of Kurdish political prisoners have entered an indefinite hunger strike, challenging Turkey's treatment of Kurdish political prisoners. Through their protest, some are demanding re-trials and language rights while others want to raise international attention about Turkey's treatment of Kurdish political prisoners. Despite their hunger strike, which is nearing six weeks, international media outlets have largely remained silent.
Turkey: Kurds Respond on Social Networking Sites to AKP Congress
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan hailed Turkey as a rising democratic power at the Justice and Development Party (AKP)'s conference last week. But criticism was vibrant on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, accusing the Prime Minister of repressing Kurdish masses while advocating for the freedom of others, such as the Palestinians.
Turkey: Thousands Protest in Istanbul Against War on Syria
Turkey's military has attacked Syrian targets in response to the killing of five Turkish civilians by Syrian government forces. In Turkey, the slogan Savasa hayir, which means “no to war,” became top trending topic among Twitter users on Thursday morning. And since the cross-border military action mandate has been approved, social networks have been divided on the issue, creating a firestorm of opinions from activists, pundits and the like.
Turkey: Little Optimism Over Kurdish Rebel Negotiations
Last week the Turkish Prime Minister signalled the start of much-needed negotiations between the Kurdistan Worker's Party and the government. The news was not met with optimism, because successive Turkish governments have a history of broken promises towards the Kurdish people.
Turkey: Prime Minister Signals Negotiations with Kurdish Rebels
The Prime Minister of Turkey has signaled that he will negotiate with Kurdish rebels after months of deadly violence. In the past Turkey has been unwilling to do so despite calls from the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party.
Turkey: Riot Police Continue to Clash with Kurds Celebrating Newroz
Kurdish people are the largest ethnic group in Turkey. They have been subject to state-sanctioned discrimination and human rights violations. Today, in Yuksekova, which is a district in the Hakkari province of Turkey, Kurdish people were attacked for gathering to celebrate Newroz - the Kurdish new year.
Turkey: Police Attack Kurds Celebrating Newroz
Thousands of Kurds took to the streets in celebration of Newroz across Turkey today but were dispersed with water cannons and tear gas. The celebration marks the first day of Spring. Kurds in the past were not allowed to exert their Kurdish identity in public, but since the 1980s, Newroz has become a symbolic event in highlighting Kurdish culture, and identity.
Egypt: Turkey's Response to Kurds Questioned as Erdogan Speaks in Cairo
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's speech about the Palestinian bid for a statehood at the Arab League was translated online live by members of social networking sites, namely Twitter, for those who did not speak Arabic or Turkish. Ruwayda Mustafah reports.