Kurdish-Islamic synthesis,[1] [2] or Kurdish-Islamic nationalism (Sorani: کوردایەتیی ئیسلامی; Kurmanji: Kurdayetîya Îslamî) is a form of Kurdish nationalism which is Islamist in nature, unlike mainstream Kurdish nationalism, which is secularist in nature.[3] [4]
The ideology emerged after the abolition of the Caliphate and the creation of Turkey, two events which angered many Kurds, who felt that their culture, religion, language, and people were endangered because of Atatürk's reforms.[5]
Even more Islamist Kurds, such as Mullah Krekar, often profess some degree of nationalism. In some videos, Mullah Krekar speaks about Kurdish issues and supporting Kurdish independence. He was described as "publishing political and nationalistic statements one day, and Jihadi statements on the next". Mullah Krekar is also a populist, and his popularity in Iraqi Kurdistan rose between 2017 and 2019, mainly among the youth who were against the Kurdish government. Mullah Krekar also added that secularism "has destroyed Kurdish values". Many Kurdish-Islamic nationalists are also Pan-Islamists who choose to fight for justice for Kurds as well, while others just focus only on establishing Kurdish statehood under Sharia.[6]
Kurdish-Islamic nationalism is often hostile to other nationalisms in the region, and is also against Secularism, Kemalism, and Ba'athism.[7]
Many of Kurdistan Islamic Union's politicians, including their leader Salahaddin Bahaaddin, have criticized the ideology, saying that "This is a huge heresy", "Islam can not be nationalized", and that "There is only one Islam, the Islam of Allah." Many other people have also called the ideology "Chauvinistic", "Supremacist", "Anti-Turkish", "Anti-Arab", and "Unscientific". Secular Kurds often criticise this ideology and have had many instances of violence against Kurdish-Islamic nationalists.[8]