A teleconference exploring the Kurdish perspective on political and religious issues in the Middle East with Ali Ezzatyar* through the lens of his new book, The Last Mufti of Iranian Kurdistan: Ethnic and Religious Implications in the Greater Middle East.

From their push for autonomy in Iraq to their struggle for independence from Turkey, the Kurdish position in the Middle East has always been tenuous. Now the Syrian government is bombing Kurdish-held areas and Iran is executing Kurdish political prisoners.

What is the role of the Kurds in the war in Syria? Where does the idea of a unified Kurdistan stand in the midst of these Middle East conflicts?

*The views expressed by Ali Ezzatyar do not necessarily represent those of the United States government.

Featuring:

Mr. Ali Ezzatyar, Lawyer and Foreign Service Officer

Mr. Ali Ezzatyar is a lawyer, U.S. diplomat, and a member of the Pacific Council. Prior to joining the Foreign Service and the U.S. Agency for International Development, he practiced law at a number of prominent international firms and served as Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Development in the Middle East at the University of California, Berkeley. Read more.

Moderator:

Dr. David Phillips, Director, Peace-Building and Rights Program, Institute for the Study of Human Rights, Columbia University

Dr. David Phillips has worked as a senior adviser to the United Nations Secretariat and as a foreign affairs expert and senior adviser to the U.S. Department of State. Read more.