Kurdish Hizbullah in Turkey: Islamism, Violence and the State (State Crime)

Hizbullah is commonly misunderstood in the west, and the differences between Hizbullah in Lebanon, whose followers are mainly adherents of the Shiite sect of Islam, and Hizbullah in Turkey, which is made up of Sunnis, specifically Shafii Kurds, are even less known. In __Kurdish Hizbullah in Turkey__, Mehmet Kurt seeks to change this, by charting the development of this powerful and misconstrued Islamist social movement from its origins in violent militancy to a more civic mode of engagement—an engagement that nonetheless provides a rationale for disenchanted young Islamists to engage in political violence. In this book, Kurt offers unique insight into Kurdish Hizbullah’s political rise and its integration of Kurdish Islamism in the region, showing how the group has successfully co-opted Kurdish nationalist discourses into an Islamist framework. Through ethnographic field work and extensive interviews with members, leaders, and supporters of Hizbullah, Kurt details how Islamic civil society managed to take root in a region where ethnic identity had been the primary factor in challenging a repressive and violent state. This study analyses Kurdish Hizbullah as a social movement, charting Hizbullah's development from its origins in violent militancy to its move towards a more ambiguous'civic'mode of engagement. Mehmet Kurt explores Hizbullah in Turkey's many paradoxes: notably its political rise and the apparent power of Islamism in a region in which leftist Kurdish political movements dominate political discourse; and its composition, which in its Sunni and Kurdish makeup, differs from the Shiite Hizbullah in Lebanon. Through his unique position as an anthropologist, theorist and former Imam, Kurt produces a work of extraordinary insight: an ethnography comprised of extensive interviews with leaders, members and supporters of Hizbullah, revealing the manner in which Islamic civil society has taken root in a region where ethnic identity has been the primary organising tool against a repressive and violent state. This Study Analyses Kurdish Hizbullah As A Social Movement, Charting Hizbullah's Development From Its Origins In Violent Militancy To Its Move Towards A More Ambiguous 'civic' Mode Of Engagement.mehmet Kurt Explores Hizbullah In Turkey's Many Paradoxes: Notably Its Political Rise And The Apparent Power Of Islamism In A Region In Which Leftist Kurdish Political Movements Dominate Political Discourse; And Its Composition, Which In Its Sunni And Kurdish Makeup, Differs From The Shiite Hizbullah In Lebanon.through His Unique Position As An Anthropologist, Theorist And Former Imam, Kurt Produces A Work Of Extraordinary Insight: An Ethnography Comprised Of Extensive Interviews With Leaders, Members And Supporters Of Hizbullah, Revealing The Manner In Which Islamic Civil Society Has Taken Root In A Region Where Ethnic Identity Has Been The Primary Organising Tool Against A Repressive And Violent State. An academic insider's account of the Islamist social movement Kurdish Hizbullah.