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Decades-long marginalisation of Kurds means widespread unemployment in the region, driving many to a life of kolbari, where they risk being shot by security forces and border patrols.

More chilling yet, Dunthorne finds a letter connecting Siegfried to Turkey’s purchase of chemical weapons from Germany — weapons allegedly used to massacre Armenians and Kurds in the town of Dersim.

The group has waged an insurgency since 1984, with the aim of carving out a homeland for Kurds, who account for about 20% of Turkey's 85 million people.

This part of Syria is controlled by Kurds, who call it Rojava - meaning western Kurdistan.

“The regime, the Iranians, the Russians, the Kurds, the coalition — every side that came here used Islamic State as their excuse,” he said.