13.4 million Kurds in Turkey, report says

ISTANBUL - Radikal

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There are 13.4 million Kurds living in Turkey, representing 17.7 percent of the population, according to research conducted by the KONDA Research and Consultancy organization, which is headed by “wise man” Tarhan Erdem.

The survey is a follow-up to research conducted in 2006 and 2010.

Participants were asked “We are all Turkish Republic citizens, but we may have different ethnic roots. What do you consider to be your ethnic origin, or how do you feel?”

According to the results, 56.3 million, or 74.5 percent of the country, said Turkish, while 5.9 million, or 7.8 percent of the country, answered with other ethnicities.

The research used Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) data and address-based population registration system.

In 2006, some 15.7 percent said they were Kurds, while 76 percent said they were Turks; in 2011, 18.3 percent said they were Kurds while 73.6 percent said they were Turkish, according to the report.