There is currently no Kurdish state and Kurds themselves are divided - both from without and within. Yet depite this, their distinctive language, culture and way of life has been maintained for centuries in the face of political repression, cultural assimilation and economic deprivation. This book traces the history of the Kurds of Iraq, Turkey and elsewhere, examining the structures of Kurdish society and the growth of Kurdish nationalism. The book focuses specifically on the human rights abuses suffered by the Kurds from the Treaty of Sevres in 1920 to the aftermath of the Gulf War. This book is designed to be of interest to students of Middle Eastern studies, international relations, conflict studies and human rights as well as to the general reader.