Edgar Morin, the 102-year-old French philosopher and thinker, is one of the most famous figures in sociology from the 1950s to the present day and who has the honorary doctorate from 38 universities around the world.

Stating that the roots of the problems experienced by the Kurdish people today lie in the policies put forward by the forces led by the British and French during the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, Edgar Morin said: “We must first situate the conflicts in their historical and geopolitical contexts. For example, the Kurdish people suffered the arbitrary division into nations imposed by the English and French after the decomposition of the Ottoman Empire. The Kurdish people found themselves divided between several nations from Turkey to Iran. It was deprived of its right to a nation. Let us add that the carving up of the Ottoman Empire in Europe and Asia into nations with ethnic inequalities caused disastrous wars, Yugoslavia, then Kosovo in Europe, and the current conflicts in the Middle East.

The absence of any peaceful solutions favors escalations and the dangers of wars, including the danger of extension or even generalization of wars."

According to Morin, "part of the Kurdish people was able to maintain an autonomous territory and defend themselves there; another suffers the cruel yoke of powers like Turkey and Iran. The general regression on all continents, the global crisis of democracies, the development of neo-authoritarian regimes contribute to the rise of populist policies and leaders."

Morin added: "Western powers never considered the national needs of the Kurdish people, but used the Kurdish people against the Islamic State."

Morin continued: "The word terrorist is misused to describe any resistance to an oppressor. This attitude does not serve peace. Favorable circumstances are needed for an international meeting on the Middle East to improve the situation, including that of the Kurdish people and that of the Palestinian people. But unfortunately, we are still far from this happening."

Morin said that "international pressure on Turkey in favor of Abdullah Öcalan could be effective. The forces that could mobilize for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish conflict are too weak and scattered. There needs to be a democratic renewal in the world so that international intervention in favor of the Kurdish people can take place. We must not stop testifying or campaigning for the Kurdish people and their leader, Abdullah Ocalan.

My opinion is clear. I admire the resistance of the Kurdish people. The struggle for freedom of the Kurdish people is a just cause and I testify and will testify in its favor. But a change in the historical situation would be necessary for the Kurdish people to be delivered from their oppressors. The important thing is not to forget it."

Rojava is important for societies seeking change and transformation

Morin said that “the system implemented in Rojava is important for societies seeking change and transformation" and added: "These experiences are exemplary and should be better known to contribute to desirable changes."

Edgar Morin

Edgar Morin is a French philosopher and sociologist of the theory of information who has been recognized for his work on complexity and "complex thought", and for his scholarly contributions to such diverse fields as media studies, politics, sociology, visual anthropology, ecology, education, and systems biology.