Rooted in the late transformations of theOttoman Empire and shaped by the rise of 20th-century Turkish nationalism, these policies have targeted the suppression ofKurdish language,cultural expression, andethnic identity[7] in order to promote Turkish linguistic andcultural hegemony.[8][9]
The history ofTurkization of the Kurdish population inTurkey andTurkish Kurdistan can be traced back to the fall of the multiethnicOttoman Empire and the rise of the modern Turkish nation-state. The shift began with the emergence of theYoung Turks and became more intense after the Republic was founded in 1923. From the beginning, the new state pursued a nationalist project focused on creating a unified Turkish identity.[10] This transformation was led byMustafa Kemal Atatürk, whose vision for the Republic aimed to define the country as exclusively Turkish, sidelining other ethnic identities, especially Kurdishness.[11][12]
Over the years, this vision led to policies aimed at suppressing Kurdish culture and identity. These included banning the use of theKurdish language, renaming Kurdish villages, and limiting Kurdish political participation. For a population of an estimated 15–20 million Kurds, these policies have had a deep and lasting impact—fueling the rise ofKurdish nationalism and contributing to continued social and political tensions in the country.[13][14]
TheTreaty of Lausanne (1923), which confirmed Turkish sovereignty, did not grant anyminority rights to the Kurds. This allowed the state to implement policies that undermined Kurdish language and cultural expressions.[15][16][17][18] As part of this approach, the Kurdish language was banned in public spaces, Kurdish families were relocated, and Kurdish uprisings—such as theSheikh Said rebellion (1925) and theDersim rebellion (1937–1938)—were met with harsh military suppression.[19] These actions reflected a broader policy of ethnic homogenization, where the state viewed visible Kurdish identity as a threat to national unity.[20]
Until 1991, the government officially denied the existence of Kurds, instead referring to them as "Mountain Turks" in an attempt to erase their identity.[21]
In the early 2000s, there were attempts to reform these policies, including the so-called Kurdish Opening. However, these initiatives were limited in scope and did not bring about lasting change. The cycle of state repression and Kurdish resistance continued, marked by clashes between Kurdish political movements—especially theKurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)—and Turkish authorities. Discrimination,armed conflict, and political crackdowns remain key features of the state's approach to Kurdish demands for rights and recognition.[22][23][24][25]
TheTurkish Constitution designates Turkish as the only language of instruction. Article 42.9 prohibits the teaching of any other language to Turkish citizens, effectively banning the use of theKurdish language in schools and public institutions.[26][27][28] TheTurkish Language Association (TDK) led efforts to "purify" the language by removing non-Turkish elements. Education in Kurdish remains heavily restricted and often politicized.[29][30]
Turkey does not recognize Kurds as a minority under the terms of theTreaty of Lausanne, which limits their cultural and political rights.[31][27][32] Many Kurds report facing discrimination and marginalization in daily life.[33][34]
Turkization policies have also included the renaming of Kurdish villages.[35]
Despitesystemic obstacles, many Kurds in Turkey continue to preserve their ethnic identity and cultural traditions.[36][37]
Gunes, Cengiz (2024), "The Kurdish Conflict in Turkey: The Central Role of Identity Recognition (or Lack Thereof)",Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 65–79,doi:10.1080/17449057.2023.2275229,S2CID265278812
Çandar, Cengiz (2017), "The Kurdish Question in Turkey",Journal of Democracy, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 122–135,doi:10.1353/jod.2017.0034
