Resolution of both the Kurdish and Palestinian issue is key to the democratisation of the Middle East, said Cemil Bayik, Co-Chair of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), in an interview released on Tuesday.
“The Kurdish and Palestinian questions are the two biggest problems in the Middle East. But they are also the two biggest dynamics of democratisation in the Middle East,” Bayik stated, highlighting the critical nature of these conflicts in the broader context of regional stability and democratic transformation.
Bayik critically examined the role of global and regional powers in the Palestinian issue. He pointed out the misalignment of geopolitical strategies with the needs and aspirations of people directly affected by conflict. “These approaches are not with a democratic approach, but on the basis of political, economic and other interests,” he noted, suggesting that external influences often exacerbate rather than alleviate the issues.
In discussing solutions for the Kurdish and Palestinian issues, Bayik emphasised the necessity of a democratic approach, moving beyond the framework of the traditional nation-state. “The problems in the Middle East take their source from the nation-state,” he explained. Proposing a model based on democratic confederalism, Bayik said, “The democratic nation is a way of life in which the national reality is lived in its true dimensions, without the blinding and misleading aspects of nationalism.”
Bayik highlighted the significance of recognising and respecting the region’s diversity, advocating for a cooperative structure that supports autonomy for diverse groups.
Bayik also addressed how international actors can play a positive role in resolving the regional crisis. “International powers must facilitate and support democratic processes, not impose solutions,” he stated, emphasising the need for collaborative efforts between local communities and global stakeholders. Local institutions must also become increasingly empowered he urged, adding, “It is important to take people-based resistance and struggle as a basis.”
