Latest news with #Turkmens
Rudaw Net
08-07-2025
- 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.
