History of Kurdistan in Timeline

Kurdistan is a geo-cultural region in West Asia characterized by a prominent Kurdish population and a historically rooted Kurdish culture, languages, and national identity. Geographically, it encompasses the northwestern Zagros and eastern Taurus mountain ranges. It is not a formally defined country but rather a region spread across parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. The region is of significance due to its cultural heritage, geopolitical importance, and the ongoing pursuit of greater autonomy or independence by some Kurdish groups.

1918: Establishment of the Kurdish State

In 1918, the short-lived Kurdish State was established.

1919: End of the Kurdish State

In 1919, the short-lived Kurdish State ended.

1920: Koçgiri Rebellion

In 1920, the Koçgiri rebellion occurred against the Grand National Assembly.

1921: Establishment of the Kingdom of Kurdistan

In 1921, the Kingdom of Kurdistan was established.

1923: Establishment of Red Kurdistan

In 1923, Kurdistansky Uyezd, also known as "Red Kurdistan", was established.

1923: Treaty of Lausanne

In 1923, the Allies accepted the renegotiated Treaty of Lausanne and the borders of the modern Republic of Turkey, leaving the Kurds without a self-ruled region.

1924: End of the Kingdom of Kurdistan

In 1924, the Kingdom of Kurdistan came to an end.

1924: Sheikh Said Rebellion

In 1924, the Sheikh Said rebellion occurred under the Turkish state.

1925: Declaration of Closed Military Area

In 1925, the region was declared a closed military area from which foreigners were banned.

1927: Republic of Ararat

In 1927, the Republic of Ararat occurred under the Turkish state.

1927: Establishment of the Republic of Ararat

In 1927, the Republic of Ararat was established.

1929: End of Red Kurdistan

In 1929, Kurdistansky Uyezd, also known as "Red Kurdistan", ended.

1930: End of the Republic of Ararat

In 1930, the Republic of Ararat came to an end.

1937: Dersim Rebellion

In 1937, the Dersim rebellion occurred under the Turkish state.

1945: Kurdish Proposal at the San Francisco Peace Conference

At the San Francisco Peace Conference of 1945, the Kurdish delegation proposed consideration of territory claimed by the Kurds.

1946: Establishment of the Republic of Mahabad

In 1946, the Republic of Mahabad was established.

1965: End of Closed Military Area

In 1965, the region ceased being a closed military area.

1980: Military Coup and Prohibition of Kurdish Language

Following the military coup of 1980, the Kurdish language was officially prohibited in public and private life.

1983: Inclusion in State of Emergency Region

In 1983, the Kurdish provinces were included in the state of emergency region, which was placed under martial law.

1991: Establishment of No-Fly Zone

At the end of the 1991 Gulf War, the Coalition established a no-fly zone over northern Iraq to provide humanitarian relief to and safeguard the Kurds.

1991: Turkish Government Acknowledgment of Kurds

Until 1991, the Turkish government categorized Kurds as "Mountain Turks".

1992: Emergence of Kurdistan Region

In 1992, amid the withdrawal of Iraqi forces from three northern provinces, Kurdistan Region emerged as an autonomous entity inside Iraq with its own local government and parliament.

2003: US invasion of Iraq

Following the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the new constitution issued in 2005 recognises Kurdistan Region as a federal region.

2003: US sponsorship of federal model in Iraq

Masrour Barzani warned about an imminent collapse of the very model of a Federal Iraq that the United States sponsored in 2003

2005: New Iraqi Constitution

In 2005, the new constitution issued in 2005 recognises Kurdistan Region as a federal region.

2005: Adoption of federal system in Iraq

Some Kurdish officials in Iraq have described punitive measures against KRI as evidence of the Iraqi government’s aim to return to a centralised political system and abandon the federal system it adopted in 2005.

July 2007: Kurdish Government Solicits Foreign Investment

As of July 2007, the Kurdish government solicited foreign companies to invest in 40 new oil sites, with the hope of increasing regional oil production.

2007: Start of Oil Extraction

Extraction of oil reserves in Kurdistan Region began in 2007.

2010: US Report on Kurdistan's Future

A 2010 US report attested that "Kurdistan may exist by 2030".

November 2011: Exxon's Contracts in Kurdistan

In November 2011, Exxon challenged the Iraqi central government's authority with the signing of oil and gas contracts for exploration rights to six parcels of land in Kurdistan.

July 2012: Agreement Between Turkey and Kurdistan Region

In July 2012, Turkey and the Kurdistan Region signed an agreement by which Turkey would regularly supply the KRG with refined petroleum products in exchange for crude oil.

June 2014: Turkey's Readiness to Accept Independent Kurdistan

On 28 June 2014 Hüseyin Çelik, a spokesman for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), made comments to the Financial Times indicating Turkey's readiness to accept an independent Kurdistan in northern Iraq.

2014: Northern Iraq Offensive by ISIS

Following the 2014 Northern Iraq offensive by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the weakening of the Iraqi state has presented an opportunity for independence for Iraqi Kurdistan.

2015: Turkey's support for Al-Nusra

As of 2015, Turkey was actively supporting Al-Nusra.

2016: Population Estimate

According to 2016 estimate Kurdish Institute of Paris, total population of Kurdistan is around 34.5 million, and Kurds making 86% of population of Northern Kurdistan.

January 2017: Turkey's stance on Al-Nusra

As of January 2017, Turkey's foreign ministry has said that Al-Nusra is a terrorist group and has acted accordingly.

July 2017: Iraqi Government Victory in Mosul

In July 2017, the Iraqi government declared victory in the Battle of Mosul against ISIS in the group’s last stronghold in the country.

September 2017: Iraqi Kurds Independence Referendum and Military Operation

In September 2017, Iraqi Kurds held a one-sided independence referendum which eventually triggered a military operation wherein the Iraqi government forces attacked the Kurds, defeating them and forcing them to abandon the referendum.

September 2017: Iraqi Kurds Independence Referendum

In September 2017, Iraqi Kurds held a one-sided independence referendum, which eventually failed and was abandoned.

September 2023: Masrour Barzani warns about collapse of federal model in Iraq

In a leaked letter published by Al-Monitor in September 2023, Masrour Barzani, the prime minister of KRG warned about an imminent collapse of the federal model in Iraq