The crisis of Turkmen in Iraq goes back to over ninety odd years when the Ottoman Empire was defeated in the First World War by the Anglo-French invasion to the Middle East which then followed by establishment of the first Iraqi Monarchy in 1991. While we, the Turkmen, have been living in Iraq and in whole Middle East for 14 centuries back, we cannot deny our cultural and ethnic links with Ottoman Empire. When the latter took over the Middle East the Turkmen were already living there. Unfortunately, the West does still consider the Iraqi Turkmen as the offspring of them and making us to pay their bills which is very unfair! Therefore, our crisis originates mainly from ignorance and hatred of the West whose policy, regarding dealing with Turkmen had always been imposed to all the consecutive Iraqi Governments. Meanwhile, the two main Kurdish Parties the, Kurdish Union Party and the (PUK) and the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) are unlimitedly backed up by the USA Administration due to their role in USA invasion to Iraq.

I am born in Kerkuk city from both Turkmen parents who could hardly spoke Arabic or Kurdish language in their whole life. Even my Arabic language was so poor when I was a pupil at primary and secondary schools in Kerkuk while other none Turkmen class-mates, who were very few in number, used to speak fluently Turkmen language as a predominant local language. Even our teachers used to explain the lessons to us in Turkmen language due to difficulties we have had in Arabic language. Hundreds of the historic documents being written by both Iraqi and foreign authors do confirm the origin of Turkmen and their existence in Iraq for over 14 centuries while every single stone of Kerkuk and surroundings so as other Turkmen cities i.e. Arbeel, Telaffer do confirm the Turkman stamp on them. These facts are denied by the Kurds while their allegation stands faked without foundation.

Kerkuk nowadays is completely invaded by Kurds. Half million of Kurds are imported to the city since April 2003 to date who increased the population of the city and made the Kurds the dominant side. Thousands of the original Turkmen and Arab families were displaced by Kurdish militias and their properties being repossessed to accommodate these immigrant Kurdish families, most who have never seen Kerkuk in their whole lives. Even the Turkmen as a local language has been replaced by Kurdish language over every individual.

Over 32 Turkmen activists have so far been assassinated during the day light in Kerkuk without investigation neither by the central nor by the local Kurdish administration. Kurdish media have always denied the liability of these crimes and have always accused American forces. The security of Kerkuk, therefore is violated by the Kurdish militia. The demographical changes which are imposed over the Turkmen in Iraq caused our people to suffer the worst. The constitution was written by Kurdish scholars to comply with their interests to guarantee Kerkuk. The two elections which were held in year 2005 so as the referendum were absolutely forged. They both denied our rights and we completely deny all of them.

The land registration office in Kerkuk was raided by Kurdish militia and all the land registry documents were forged to comply with their nationalist interests in kurdifying Kerkuk. Almost all the directors of various offices, firms, factories in Kerkuk have been replaced by Kurdish individuals who are loyal only to their parties.

There are no positive sides of Kurdish existence in Kerkuk to talk about, as every bit is negative. The message of Mr. Burhan Jaff, the UN Representative of the Kurdish Regional Government implied a direct threat to Turkmen when he said “the Kurdish administration could use a suitable force whenever needed to suppress any Turkmen attempts to disturb our interest and plans in the rich oil city of Kerkuk”. This message does confirm their involvement in assassination of our Turkmen activists within the four years gone by Kurdish militia. Apparently, the Kurdish interest in Kerkuk comes from their intention to establish a Kurdish state (Kurdistan) after partitioning Iraqi land on the account of Turkmen people which absolutely is rejected by us.

The persistence of this awkward situation will definitely harm the Future of Turkmen does not improve the whole situation in Iraq but rather damages every thing has been achieved so far.

Owing to the above facts both USA and Western administrative are urged to change their views about the peaceful Iraqi Turkmen and to consider acknowledging their human rights in Iraq as a third Iraqi main nations rather than minorities.

To solve the Turkmen crisis, the first issue should be the recognition of Turkmen lands (Turkmenali) particularly Kerkuk city, surroundings towns, Telaffer, Diyala city and to put an end to the Kurdish aggression and dominancy in confiscating them and their disrecognition the Turkmen rights.