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Rudaw Net
4 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraqi PM sends committee to investigate Kirkuk Turkmen protests
Also in Iraq Sudani receives Turkish intel chief in Baghdad Kurds to unite against Diyala district changes Diyala governor to probe disappearance of nearly 400 gazelles All Kurdish oil exports to be handed over to Baghdad: Source A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An investigative committee sent by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani arrived Monday in Kirkuk's Prde (Altun Kupri) subdistrict to probe recent protests led by supporters of the Iraqi Turkmen Front over a Kurdish administrative appointment. Turkmen Front supporters held demonstrations last week over the appointment of a Kurdish woman as municipal director on the main Erbil-Kirkuk highway. They blocked traffic, smashed windows, and lit fires, briefly shutting down the road on Thursday, the final day of protests, before security forces dispersed the crowd. Abdullah Mirwais, a member of the Kirkuk Provincial Council, told Rudaw that the prime minister's delegation is headed by Ahmad al-Fatlawi, who chairs the high committee for interprovincial cooperation. The delegation met with Kirkuk Governor Rebwar Taha on Monday before visiting Pirde to assess the situation. A detailed report and recommendation will be presented to Sudani, Mirwais added. Protesters have demanded that one of three top local posts - municipal director, mayor, or police chief - be assigned to a Turkmen representative. The Kirkuk Provincial Council formed a committee on Thursday to follow up on the demonstrators' demands. Miwais said the dispute is politically motivated, linked more to upcoming elections than genuine grievances over representation. 'The position was previously held by a Kurd, meaning a Kurd was removed and another Kurd was appointed. It's not that a Turkmen was removed and a Kurd filled their place. Therefore, this is only for gaining future seats - the issue is more about elections,' he said. While top posts remain contested, Prde's mayor Abdulmutalib Najmadin told Rudaw in late June that Turkmens hold 12 out of 17 local offices in Prde - including directors of hospitals, banks, the notary office, emergency police, and others. 'Kurds are the majority in Pirde, but despite this, we have always shown flexibility,' Mirwais said. 'Unfortunately, some politicians mislead this nation [Turkmens]. We completely believe in coexistence and brotherhood between Kurds, Turkmens, and Arabs, which is why the majority of positions are held by them.' The Turkmen Front is particularly active in Kirkuk's politics and has repeatedly claimed that the city, disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, belongs to the Turkmen people. In addition to supporters of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, Turkmen members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) and cadres from the Badr Organization also joined the protest, according to Rudaw's reporter on the ground and accompanying footage. Nahro Mohammed contributed to this report.
Rudaw Net
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Erbil-Kirkuk road reopens after Turkmen protests over appointment of Kurdish official
Also in Iraq Makhmour camp residents warn of 'humanitarian catastrophe' amid blockade Iraq appoints new chief justice following judicial turmoil Sudani orders monitoring of water flow from Turkey Austrian ambassador praises President Barzani's role in Iraq ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The main Erbil-Kirkuk highway reopened on Thursday after supporters of the Iraqi Turkmen Front blocked it for over an hour in protest of recent administrative appointments in the disputed subdistrict of Prde (Altun Kupri) in Kirkuk province. The protest follows Monday's demonstration, when Turkmen Front supporters stormed the Prde municipality building in objection to the appointment of a Kurdish woman as the new municipal mayor. The demonstrators demanded that one of three key positions in the town - municipal mayor, subdistrict administrator, or police chief - be given to a Turkmen representative. Some protesters, reportedly armed, smashed windows and broke down doors before being dispersed by security forces. Others lit fires and briefly shut down the Erbil-Kirkuk highway. Protests resumed on Thursday, once again blocking the highway. Security forces reopened the road after about an hour. A committee was formed by the provincial council later that day to follow up on the protesters' demands. Prde's administrative posts remain a point of contention. The local mayor told Rudaw that Turkmens currently hold 12 out of 17 local positions but are now seeking one of the top roles. Kirkuk provincial council member Abdullah Mirwais told Rudaw that political factions are stoking unrest for electoral gain in the upcoming federal elections scheduled for November. 'At a time when elections are approaching, some politicians are getting involved in these affairs,' he said. 'Turkmen, Kurds, and Arabs as ethnicities have no problems with each other, but [political] parties sometimes stir up these issues for their own gains.' The Iraqi Turkmen Front has reportedly been divided over how to respond to recent appointments, amid a rift between its former leader Hassan Turan - who resigned in April - and Arshad al-Salihi, the party's parliamentary leader and Turan's predecessor. The party remains a key player in Kirkuk's politics and has repeatedly claimed that the city, disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, belongs to the Turkmen people. In addition to supporters of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, Turkmen members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) and cadres from the Badr Organization also joined the protest, according to Rudaw's reporter on the ground and accompanying footage.
Shafaq News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Three gunmen kidnap Kurdish farmer in Kirkuk
Shafaq News – Kirkuk On Thursday, three unidentified gunmen abducted a Kurdish farmer in Kirkuk, one of Iraq's most contested and diverse provinces. A security source told Shafaq News that the assailants, traveling in a civilian vehicle, seized the farmer while he was working near Altun Kupri, north of Kirkuk, and transported him to an undisclosed location. Security forces have launched a search operation to locate the kidnappers and secure the farmer's release, the source noted, without providing further details. Kirkuk, claimed by both Baghdad and the Kurdish governments, has long been a flashpoint for ethnic and political tensions. Its 1.9 million residents include Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, and Christians, all vying for influence over its oil-rich territory. On Wednesday, Turkmen Front leader Mohammad Samaan Agha called for fair ethnic representation in Kirkuk's security and administrative institutions to preserve its diversity and promote genuine power-sharing.
Shafaq News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Turkmen Front urges al-Sudani to reshape Kirkuk government
Shafaq News – Kirkuk On Wednesday, the Turkmen Front urged the Iraqi government to oversee a reshuffle of Kirkuk's local government to secure Turkmen participation in the province's administration. Front leader Mohammad Samaan Agha referenced recent talks within the State Administration Coalition (SAC)—a ruling alliance of major Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish parties—stressing the need to reinforce national unity and calling for Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's direct involvement in crafting a new power-sharing arrangement. 'Achieving ethnic balance across all institutions—security, service, and administrative—is essential to reflect Kirkuk's diverse identity and ensure genuine partnership among its communities,' he clarified. Kirkuk, rich in oil resources and long disputed, remains a flashpoint among Iraq's three main ethnic groups—Arabs, Kurds, and Turkmen, who number between 2 and 3 million.
Rudaw Net
30-06-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Iraq president appoints new Federal Supreme Court chief amid judicial turmoil
Also in Iraq Turkmen Front supporters block Erbil-Kirkuk highway over Kurdish appointment Kurdish, Iraqi forces kill 'three terrorist' in Kirkuk Erbil, Baghdad edge toward oil export deal despite oil volume dispute: Sources Baghdad hotel venue for Arab Summit hit by fire A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on Monday formally appointed Judge Munther Ibrahim Hussein as the new head of Iraq's highest judicial authority, the Federal Supreme Court. The appointment comes following the retirement of former Chief Justice Jassim al-Umairi, whose resignation was approved by Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council a day earlier. Citing a source within the presidency, the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported that President Rashid 'issued a presidential decree' appointing Judge Hussein to the top judicial post. Judge Hussein previously served as deputy head of the Federal Court of Cassation and was also a reserve member of the Federal Supreme Court. His elevation comes amid a critical transitional period for Iraq's judiciary. Former Chief Justice Umairi's resignation - officially attributed to "health reasons" - followed a wave of resignations from within the Federal Supreme Court. In mid-June, six out of nine permanent members and three reserve members of the court stepped down, reportedly in direct protest against Umairi's leadership. Speaking to Rudaw on condition of anonymity, one of the resigned judges stated in mid-June, 'The behavior of the court president [Umairi] is unacceptable to us, and we are tired of dealing with his working manners.' Importantly, the resignations occurred ahead of a highly anticipated legal session concerning the Kurdistan Region. Since early June, public servants in the Region have been pressing the court to issue an injunction that would compel the federal government to resume salary disbursements, which have been frozen since late May. Tensions between Erbil and Baghdad escalated when the federal finance ministry halted all budget transfers to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), including the salaries of over 1.2 million public employees. The ministry claimed the move was due to the KRG exceeding its 12.67 percent share of the 2025 federal budget. Kurdish political parties have widely condemned the suspension, labeling it unconstitutional and politically motivated. President Rashid's swift approval of Judge Hussein's appointment may be seen as an effort to stabilize the Federal Supreme Court amid ongoing legal and constitutional disputes, including the urgent matter of public servant salaries in the Kurdistan Region.
