Lessons from Iraqi Kurdistan: Self-Determination and Humanitarian Intervention against Genocide

Abstract

The repression of the Kurdish people of Iraq is nothing new. It is part of the decades-long policy of Arab colonial domination and denial of their right to self-determination by the international community. After the Iraqi military advance into Kurdistan, the intensification of the savage repression resulted in a disturbing increase in the exodus of Kurdish refugees. Suddely, the repression of Kurds by the Iraqi military was transformed from an ‘essentially internal affair’ to a situation which threatened ‘international peace and security’ and thus the legal basis for United Nations Security Council intervention was provided. Akhavan examines this international action against the repression in Iraqi Kurdistan. Humanitarian intervention against genocide, the concept of genocide and the right to self-determination and assistance are subsequently discussed.