Birakuji (Brother slaughtered) case in modern Kurdish political life the case of Şemdinli (1978 and after)

This thesis deals with "birakuji", a modern aspect of Kurdish politics and sociology. Birakuji, which can be translated into Turkish as "brother slaughtered", is a concept that was built with the formation of the party tradition in Kurdish political life since the 1940s and has caused deep trauma in the memories of Kurds. Hakkari province, mostly Şemdinli, was chosen as the thesis field, and the experiences, perceptions and testimonies of the people living in this area regarding the birakuji phenomenon were discussed. In this context, some birakuji experiences were focused on, especially the example that took place in Şemdinli between KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) and PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) in 1978, where nearly 800 peshmerga lost their lives or disappeared. In the research, in-depth interviews were conducted with those who witnessed these experiences and process, and the relevant literature and press of the period were scanned. The meaning, impact and consequences of these experiences in terms of Kurdish politics and sociology have been analyzed sociologically.