Reinterpreting identity in the context of space and reconciliation: A qualitative study on Arabized Kurds in the city center of Mardin

This study aims to understand, reveal and explore the hyphenated identities of the 'Arabized Kurds' living in Mardin city centre, considering the themes of space and reconciliation. The focus of this study is the question of how an identity, which is repositioned through the interrelation and actual transformation of two different ethnic and cultural identities, is formed through which encounters, interactions, and negotiation processes. This article presents data collected through qualitative research conducted using a case study design. Once again, it reveals that identity is not fixed or singular, but fluid and constantly reconstructed through space, language, and cultural interactions. The findings were interpreted through thematic and discourse analysis, using in-depth interviews and observation as the data collection tools. First, the Arabized Kurdish identity in Mardin demonstrates that ethnic boundaries are not rigid or insurmountable and can transform through historical processes and social contact. Secondly, this flexible, interconnected, hyphenated identity is much more effective than tolerance in establishing social reconciliation in Mardin because it manages social tensions by facilitating negotiation between ethnic groups.