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1 [i] (July 15, 2014)

handle is hein.crs/crsmthaaaqb0001 and id is 1 raw text is: CRS Insights The Kurds and Possible Iraqi Kurdish Independence Jim Zanotti, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs (jzanotti~crsIoc.gov, 7-1441) Kenneth Katzman, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs (kkatzmanacrs.loc.gov, 7-7612) July 15, 2014 (IN10105) Approximately 30 million ethnic Kurds inhabit a largely mountainous region at the intersection of Turkey. Iraq. Syria, and Iran. In recent years, Kurdish populations have increasingly influenced regional developments, particularly given ongoing conflict and change in Iraq and Syria and long-standing efforts by Turkey's Kurds to obtain greater political rights (see CRS Report R43612, Iraq Crisis and U.S. Policy). These developments are of interest to Congress and the Obama Administration, in light of recent indications that the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq may seek outright indpendence. Regional Context Kurds share strong historical, cultural, and interactive bonds across countries, and are known as Qneutt the larest ethnic rous without control o tate. Yet Kurds are also riven by a host of linguistic and political differences, and vary in religiosity and Muslim confessional identity-though the majority is Sunni. Members of the sizeable Kurdish diaspora (more than 1 million) can be found throughout the world, but primarily in Europe. Precise demographic and economic data regarding Kurds in various states are generally unavailable. Figure 1. Kurds in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria Approximate Kurdish population by country Turkey IS M11110rn I ran 8 million T R K E YIraq illon 00 I Ro A 0m u S~res fmII Lif i hg K~dl- Y , 1 rd i 11 r l t n r o t r I i l A l i r t , ~ Since the early 20th Century, Kurds have periodically engaged in conflict with and faced repression by the governments of the states in which they live. They have also experienced economic disadvantages. Kurdish nationalist insurgencies or political struggles in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran have received support of varying kinds and extents-resources, manpower, logistics, public relations, territorial safe havens-via transnational Kurdish ties in the region and the diaspora in Europe. In Iraq, Kurd..acquired de facto autonomy following the 1991 Gulf War, and have formalized and increased this autonomy since the U.S.-led removal of Saddam Hussein from power in 2003. This was the result of several factors, including: * rights conferred upon the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) under Iraq's 2005 constitution;

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