ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Several Turkish far-right politicians have recently disrespected the Kurdistan Region by referring to it as a "rag." In response, a Kurdish lawmaker brought the flag to the legislature to defend it.
The controversy began when Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, a member of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), expressed his anger on Saturday about the government allowing Kurds to celebrate their New Year (Newroz) in Diyarbakir (Amed) with Kurdistan flags. At the same time, he criticized the government’s response to CHP protests, which had erupted after the sacking of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu over corruption charges.
"Yesterday, somewhere in the east [Kurdish-majority areas], while flags that were rags in my opinion were being waved and the police were giving cotton candy to those who went to that rally, we expect them to give cotton candy to the young people here as well,” Yavas told CHP protesters in Istanbul.
Kurdish politicians and social media users strongly criticized Yavas for his remarks. CHP leader Ozgur Ozel stated that only he represents the official stance of the party, indirectly implying that Yavas' comments do not align with the party's position.
Yavas later claimed that some people were attempting to "distort and politicize" his speech about the Kurdistan flag, clarifying that his intent was to criticize the government's "double standards" in handling protests and Newroz celebrations.
"I criticized the double standards regarding the right to demonstrate, which is guaranteed by the Constitution," he said.
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Amed on March 21 to celebrate Newroz, and the display of the Kurdistan flag was reportedly at its highest in years. The flag was also seen in Turkish-majority cities like Istanbul during Newroz celebrations. The peaceful nature of this year’s Newroz celebrations is believed to be linked to ongoing talks between the state and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has indicated a willingness to lay down arms in exchange for greater political and cultural recognition of Kurds.
As people were still processing Yavas' comments, the leader of the ultranationalist IYI Party also referred to the Kurdish flag as "rag" in a remark on Wednesday.
"Rags are being waved in the squares as if they were being made in imitation of the glorious Turkish flag. Yes, I say rags. The name of the pieces of cloth that are waved with treacherous intentions and equated with our flag, which is the sole symbol of the freedom and independence of this great nation, is rags," Musavat Dervisoglu told his party's lawmakers at the parliament.
The following day, a deputy from the IYI Party echoed similar sentiments.
"Kurds are the noble and first-class people of this country, just like the others, but you are betraying those people. Do you know why he [Dervisoglu] said 'rag', let me explain it to you: Because it is a rag, it is not a flag," he said at a parliament meeting.
These remarks sparked anger among Kurdish lawmakers, who took the opportunity to defend the Kurdistan flag.
“Why are the Kurdish people’s achievements irritating you? The federal Kurdistan Region, which part of Iraq, has an international recognition. This is an important thing for us. Who are you to call it a rag? Who are you to call the Kurdish flag a rag?" Gulistan Kilic from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) addressed the far-right lawmaker and others who have opposed the raising of Kurdistan flag.
Sirri Sakik, another DEM Party lawmaker, held up the Kurdistan flag in his hands as he vehemently defended it.
"This is a flag that constitutionally represents the administration in Iraqi Kurdistan... Some impudent people call this flag a rag," he said.
"When their [Kurdistan’s] representative come here in the [Ankara] Esenboga Airport, this flag waves alongside the Turkish flag. The real rag is your mentality, your racism, and your hostility towards Kurds," he added, expressing his surprise that some people are against the flag of a Kurdish region which enjoys strong political and economic ties with Ankara.
Turkey "exports goods worth billions of dollars to the region. So, why such hostility toward the Kurds?"
In an interview with Rudaw's Hevidar Zana, he explained that the Kurdistan flag represents the Kurdish struggle against oppression, with many legendary Kurdish figures having fought to preserve it.
"Has anyone from Kurdistan thrown a stone at you? No," he said.
He noted that after he left the legislature, some lawmakers protested his remarks, annoyed by the enthusiasm with which Kurds celebrated Newroz. "All they do is show hostility toward Kurds," he added.
Sakik emphasized that those opposed to Kurdish achievements "have learned from their ancestors."
The Kurdistan flag has been present during Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) top officials’ meetings with their Turkish counterparts.
The Turkish government often associates the act of displaying Kurdish symbols, especially the Kurdistan flag, with a show of support for the PKK, arresting those waving it for terror charges.
