Altin Kopru

The Turkmen Ancient Township 2018

Mofak Salman Kerkuklu

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Altin Kopru The Turkmen Ancient Township

By Mofak Salman Kerkuklu

ISBN: 978-0-9555489-8-7

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Purpose and cope ...... 4 1.0 CHAPTER 1.0 …………………………………………………………….5 1.1 BRIEF HISTORY OF ALTIN KOPRU ...... 5 1.2 POPULATION ...... 10 1.4 LANGUAGE OF THE TURKMEN ALTIN KOPRU ...... 13 1.5 RELIGION OF THE TURKMEN ...... 15 1.6 THE WEATHER IN ALTINKOPRU ...... 15 1.7 ADMINISTRATION ...... 18 1.8 ART AND CRAFT ...... 19 2.0 CHAPTER TWO ...... 32 2.1 UPRISING 1991 KURDS & SHI’AA UPRISING AND MASSACRE OF THE TURKMEN IN ALTIN KOPRU ...... 32 2.2 POLITICAL SITUATION ...... 37 2.3 THE KURDISH INDEPENDENT REFERENDON ………………………..48 2.4 THE VOLATILE PERIOD IN KERKUK……………………………………59

3.0 CHAPTER ...... 61 3.1 THE KURDISH DEFEAT IN KIRKUK AND THE LIBERATION OF ALTINKÖPRÜ ...... 61

3 Purpose and cope This book has been written with four key purposes in mind: firstly, to form an assessment of the current position of Turkmen in the Altin Kopru; secondly, to highlight the oppression of Turkmen after the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s regime; thirdly, to introduce a brief history of the Turkmen populace at Altin Kopru to the world; and finally, to draw the world’s attention to the situation and oppression of Turkmen in Iraq. I wish to reveal to the world the political situation and suffering of Iraqi Turkmen populace under the Iraqi regime to expose Iraqi Kurdish bandits and to subsequently reveal their premeditated plan to change the demographic of the Turkmen-populated area. I would like to dedicate this book to: Turkmen who have ever been detained in Iraqi prisons; Turkmen who died under torture in Iraqi prisons; Turkmen whose sons and daughters were executed by the Iraqi regime; Turkmen who fought and died without seeing a free Turkmen homeland; and finally, to the Turkmen city of Kirkuk, which is a bastion of cultural and political life for those Turkmen who are currently resisting the Kurdish and Arab occupation. This book could not have been written without the support of Turkmen all over the world. Therefore, first and foremost, I would extend my sincerest gratitude to Bozkurt Cormac Salman. I would also like to thank my family and most importantly, my martyred brother, surgeon Dr. Burhan Mohammed Salman Kerkuklu, who motivated and encouraged me from childhood to fight for the Turkmen cause in the Turkmen Eli.

Dr. Burhan Mohammed Salman Kerkuklu. Iraq–Iran Gulf war, 1982

4 1.0 CHAPTER ONE

1.1 BRIEF HISTORY OF ALTIN KOPRU

Altin Kopru is a small old ancient Turkmen [1] sub district located at 40km to the north of Kirkuk and the city lies to the north-west of Kirkuk. It is at 50km from Erbil. [2] Altin Kopru /Altun Kopri means 'Golden Bridge' in the Turkish language.

Figure (1) scenery from Altin Kopru

The indigenous inhabitants of Altin Kopru are Turkmen. However, the demographic looks quite different now. In the mid-fifties of the nineteenth century and in the recent years, many Kurds and Arabs migrated to Altin Kopru, seeking work as economical migrants. This trend specifically escalated after the Kurdish rebellion in 1975 was quelled by the Iraqi Ba’ath regime. Regardless, Altin Kopru is a Turkmen authentic and it is one of the many Turkmen ancient sub districts. [3][4] Altin Kopru is approximately located between Erbil and Kirkuk. It is situated on the banks of al- Zāb al-Asfal (Little Zab) River. The Little Zab River, the Little Zab Arabic: (Kucik Zab) Turkmen, (Zēʾi Koya), Syriac. The historian indicated that the Zab River was known as Altin Su (Golden Water). However, after the construction of the two bridges over Altin Su (golden river), the name

1 The Iraqi Turkmen live in an area that they call “Türkmenia” in Latin or “Türkmeneli” which means, “Land of the Turkmen”. It was referred to as “Turcomania” by the British geographer William Guthrie in 1785. The Turkmen are Turkic groups that have a unique heritage and culture as well as linguistic, historical and cultural links with the surrounding Turkic groups such as those in Turkey and Azerbaijan. Their spoken language is closer to Azeri but their official written language is like the Turkish spoken in present-day Turkey. Their real population has always been suppressed by the authorities in Iraq for political reasons and estimated at 2%, whereas their numbers are more realistically between 2.5 to 3 million, i .e. 12% of the Iraqi population. 2 Turkmenelinden Notlar, Year 1 Issue 2 June 1999, Altinköprü Katliami Page. 2. 3 The Turkmen and Kirkuk, by Yucel Guclu, ISBN 978-1-4257-1853-4, Page 26. 4 The Turkmen and Kirkuk, by Yucel Guclu, ISBN 978-1-4257-1853-4, Page 58

5 of sub-district was changed to Altin Su Kopru (golden water bridge), and with time, the word Su was omitted and the name became Altin Kopru. The Altin Su (Little Zab) divides the Altin Kopru into three main sections: • Buyuk Yakha (Salahi Neighbourhood) toward Kirkuk • Orta Yakha • Hay Tesin toward Erbil “Kucik Kopru Mahalesi and Kucik Yakha”

Figure (2) Satellite map showing the location of Altin Kopru in northern of Iraq

The river of Altin Su (Golden River) has acquired varied names in different eras. It was called Zap Shablu and Kapres in the Assyrian era, Zap Alasfel during the Islamic era and Altin Su commencing from the fourteen centuries. For reference, Altin Su means golden water in Turkish language. [5] The river at the entrance of the city branches into two, dividing the city into three parts comprising of Salahiya, Orta Yaka and Tesin. At the exit of the city, the two branches merge to form the river. The river was considered an important economical source for the population. The water from the river was used for watering orchards, especially vegetables farms, and the township was well- known for its quality of fish and handcraft, specifically handmade baskets. The river was also used to irrigate plants and vegetables that were grown in the area. Altin Kopru has a very fertile land and, as such, a wide range of vegetables were produced in the area. The produced vegetables were well known for their quality and these products were subsequently sold to Kirkuk, Baghdad and southern cities of Iraq. The population of Altin Kopru gradually increased, triggering a need for better infrastructure to facilitate the transportation of agriculture products and movement of people between two sides of the river. This necessitated a requirement to build a bridge on this river. As a result, a bridge was built between the Orta Yaka and Salihi neighbourhoods. This bridge was initially called Altin Su Koprusu and its name was later shortened to Altin Kopru Bridge. The existing steel truss bridges were built on the ruins of old bridges constructed in the form of arches made of natural stones, spanning whole width of the river.

The river is quite deep and rich with good quality fish. The flow of the river Altin Kopru toward the Kirkuk province site is faster than the water flow at the Erbil province site.

5 Altinkopru fi Eimak Alquloop ve Altarih by Saudun Nooradin Koperli

6 The town ship bridge name Altin Kopru Bridge was mentioned by various historians and researchers such as German Historian Hoffman, Turkish historian Farooq Somer, and Iraqi researchers Abdulrazaq Alhuseini, Yagoob Serkis, Towfeek Wahbi, Jamel Baban and others. [6]

Figure (3) scenery of fish shop in Altin Kopru

Figure (4) scenery of fish shop in Altin Kopru

The town ship of Altin Kopru is in low land and is surrounded by the hills, valleys and mountains. It is situated in the mid of city of Erbil and Kirkuk. The township of Altin Kopru is surrounded with tress and is endowed with a stunning landscape. This normally attracts a lot of visitors, especially tourists from Kirkuk who visit Altin Kopru for picnics, their numbers peaking during the summer and spring time.

6 Altinkopru fi Eimak Alquloop ve Altarih by Saudun Nooradin Koperli

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Figure (5) sunrise over the Little Zab River photo by panoramio.com

Figure (6) scenery from Altin Kopru

The geographical location of Altin Kopru serves as a link and an interception point between Erbil, Kirkuk, Baghdad and Mosul provinces. According to historians, the sub district could have acquired the name of Altin Kopru owing to a variety of reasons including: - • At the start of construction, the bridge of Altin Kopru (which is in the sub district) was suspended with a gold ring that had a length of 116m. A silver ring was suspended on the shorter bridge which was 54meters long. • The other historians state that the name of Altin Kopru is derived from the people of the city of Altin Kopru since they collected pieces of gold from the inhabitants of the sub district prior to building of this bridge.

8 • Some historians state that the name could be attributed to fertility of the territories and the agricultural land that resulted in a mass production of agricultural products, the value of which could be equated to gold. It is also likely that the name Altin Kopru derived from the Sultan Murat IV. As he passed from Altin Kopru during his visit to Baghdad in 1683, it is believed that he ordered construction of these two bridges to facilitate movement of commercial and military equipment. It is further believed that Sultan Murat IV donated two pieces of gold that hung above each bridge. • The name of Altin Kopru is derived from two Turkish words, Altin and Kopru; Altin means gold and Kopru. Kopru means a bridge in Turkish language, with the name of Altin Kopru standing for golden bridge in the Turkmen language. [7]

Figure (7) Altin Kopru Bridge, photo by Ali Kassap

Figure (8) Altin Kopru Bridge, photo by Ali Kasap The Turkmen clans and families that are inhibited in Altin Kopru are considered as indigenous people of the city. The root of the Turkmen people inhibited in Altin Kopru is derived from Turkish Oguz clans who originally migrated from Central Asia and settled at various parts of Iraq

7 Felah Yazeroglu, Bizturkmeniz Website, 2011, Min Diyar Al_Turkmen, Madinet Turkmaniya Thata Jemal Ve Tabiaa Khalaba, http://www.bizturkmeniz.com/ar/showArticle.asp?id=20461

9 in general and specifically in Kirkuk, Erbil, Diyala and Mosul. This settlement was after the Sumerian settlement in Iraq.

After the fall of Saddam Hussein’s Regime in 2003 and a weak central government in Baghdad, the Kurdish regional government in North of Iraq annexed a large area outer of the Kurdish Regional Government. In addition, they also amended names of various Turkmen districts and sub district names to Kurdish names: for example, changing the name of the Turkmen township of Altin Kopru to Bardi. Many such changes were implemented without the approval of the people, or the central government and even without any proper referendum. Instead, such changes were frequently imposed on the people by the Kurdish militia in conjunction with and by the support of the US and British forces. The main objective and goal of the Kurdish Regional Government is that to change the demography of the area in order to facilitate the Kurdish Regional Government to annex it to the Kurdish Regional Government territory.

1.2 POPULATION

The population of inhabitants in Altin Kopru are mainly Turkmen. However, after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s government, many Kurds were brought to the township. In addition, Saddam Hussein’s government brought many Arab tribes from the south of Iraq to this area and established many villages, including Arab settlements. The objective of Saddam Hussein’s government was primarily twofold: to reduce the Turkmen population in the area; and to change the demography of township. The main spoken language in Turkmen of Altin Kopru is Turkmen and has a special and a unique Turkmen accent. Many Iraqi historians indicate that the people of Altin Kopru descendent solely from one tribe. One specific historian who expressed this opinion was Mr. Muhsin Bahjat, who clearly indicated that the Turkmen of Altin Kopru have a different accent compared to the Turkmen people who live in Turkmen Eli. In addition, he also stated that the Turkmen of Altin Kopru descended from the Yaqutiyin and another tribe who originally migrated from Central Asia and settled in Altin Kopru. By the time the Turkmen settled in Altin Kopru at Orta Yaka hill “Hathabat Orta Yaka”, they had built two walls: one internal wall; and another outer wall to protect themselves from outer attacks. Altin Kopru was called as a Simur by the Assyrian. Moreover, the name of Altin Kopru was stated in the Thafernama by the Parisian historian Sharafedin Ali Al_Yazdi 1424. [8] Perusal of other resources suggest that at mid of the fourteenth century, the Turkmen prince of the Estate of Kara Koyunli, Bayram Koja used to spend his time in the summer season at the Van lake in Erzurum province in Turkey whereas Bayram Koja spent his time in winter season in Altin Kopru and Kirkuk. Other historians indicate that the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Murad IV went through the township of Altin Kopru in 1638 during his campaign of retaken Baghdad from the Safavids dynasty. Some sources also suggest that the Altin Bridge was built by Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Murad IV. However, according to the reliable sources, the Altin Kopru Bridge was built prior to Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Murad IV. [9] The township of Altin Kopru was also mentioned by the Portuguese explorer Afsu in his travelling memoir in (973AH-1565AD) as Altin Kopru. Similarly, the township was mentioned in 1576AD by the German traveller Rolwolf in his memoir as Altin Kopru while going through it. In addition, Altin Kopru was mentioned by the Turkish writer Katib Cheli and the Indian explorer who was

8 Altun kopru fi Eimak Alquloop ve Altarih by Saudun Nooradin Koperli 9 Altunkopru fi Eimak Alquloop ve Altarih by Saudun Nooradin Koperli

10 working for the Indian Eastern company who was also the surgeon doctor Eyfiz during his visit to the region in 1758AD. Furthermore, the township of Altin Kopru was visited by the English explorer Bellingham in 1816 and the researcher Hartfield also Drewits. The old stone bridge that connected Orta Yakha neighbourhood to the Salahi neighbourhood and he stated in his memoir that the bridge history goes back to the third century. The township of Altin Kopru was also mentioned by the well-known British explorer Reach in his memoir in 1813.

1.3 TRADITIONAL CLOTHES

Figure (9) Turkmen is wearing Burk and Jamadani is hanged on his shoulder

The Turkmen in Altin Kopru wore traditional clothes called Zubun Jacket that consisted of a jacket and a long dress, often made of the same material and colour. They also wore a scarf which is known among the public as Jamadani along with a hat on their heads. The hat is known by the Turkmen as Burk, is normally white in colour and is often made of wool or cotton. The people also wore special shoes known as Kelash which consisted of leather soul and knitted top using wool or cotton.

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Figure (10) Turkmen from Altin Kopru with traditional dress Jamadani and Zubun Jacket

Figure (11) Turkmen from Altin Kopru with traditional dress Jamadani and Zubun Jacket

The houses in Altin Kopru were often made of mud and mixed with hay. The logs from trees were used for ceiling. However, most of the houses in Altin Kopru were constructed from bricks with a flat roof, using either concrete or mud mixed with hay. During the hot summer season, the people of the sub district would sleep on the roof of the houses to avoid the extreme summer heat and to thoroughly enjoy the night breeze alongside the blue sky adorned with thousands of shiny stars.

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Figure (12) houses along the Zap River

1.4 LANGUAGE OF THE TURKMEN ALTIN KOPRU

There are several languages spoken in Altin Kopru: Turkmen; Kurdish; and Arabic. However, the Turkmen language is the most dominant language in the sub district. Still the Turkmen form the overwhelming majority of Altin Kopru. The most common and out spoken language in Turkmen Eli is Turkish dialect.[10] This is part of the Western Turkish language group that also includes the Turkish spoken in Turkey, Cyprus, the Balkans, Iranian Azerbaijan (Republic of South Azerbaijan), Republic of Azerbaijan, Northern Syria, Turkmenistan, Southern Turkistan and the Turkmen of Afghanistan. The Turkmen language, with various accents, is of a similar dialect to the Turkish language spoken in Azerbaijan and Urfa in South eastern Turkey. Ironically, it is not very close to the Turkmen language, spoken in the Republic of Turkmenistan (central Asia). The Iraqi Turkmen language is drawn from two major sources. The first and foremost is the spoken language with local dialects of Altin Kopru, Tuz Khormatu, Telafer, Erbil, Kirkuk and other main Turkish areas. In general, these belong to Azeri Turkish. Although, other local Turkish dialects exhibit degrees of similarities, differences are found in local dialects spoken in different cities, towns, villages and, even, neighbourhoods. This can be attributed to the fact that different Turkish clans settling in Iraq from the 11th Century and onwards and had slightly different dialects. Spoken language is the foundation of Iraqi Turkmen culture and its folk literature, group identity, ethnic consciousness

10 Türkmeneli is a diagonal strip of land stretching from the Syrian and Turkish border areas from around Telafer in the north of Iraq, reaching down to the town of Mandeli on the Iranian border in Central Iraq. The Türkmen of Iraq settled in Türkmeneli in three successive and constant migrations from Central Asia, which increased their numbers and enabled them to establish six states in Iraq.

13 and world outlook. The spoken mother tongue is naturally passed on to new generations and this, subsequently, creates a strong bond uniting the Turkish-speaking people of Iraq. The overwhelming population of the city according to the census that was carried out in 1957 were Turkmen. However, prior to the fall of Saddam Hussein’s Regime, the population of the city was 11.560.00. Most inhabitants in Turkmen Eli and especially in Altin Kopru speak Turkmen language, and a dialect of Turkish is used nearly throughout the city. [11][12] That said, the Arabization policies implemented by the Iraqi state from 1970s onwards forced the Turkmen population to speak Arabic. The Arabization policy introduced by Saddam Hussein had a very categorical aim: to Arabize the Turkmen populated area; and to eventually dilute the Turkmen in the Arabic Society. As expected, the policy worked, and the Arabic language was consequently forced on the Turkmen as an official language in Iraq. The Turkmen in Turkmen Eli were prohibited from using their own language as a means of education. The Turkmen dialect is nearly used throughout the Turkmen Eli. Unfortunately, compulsory education in Arabic has led to the weakening and deterioration of the spoken Turkmen language from generation to generation. In fact, the older generation with no formal education speaks relatively purer and more correct Turkmen than the young generation that was educated during Saddam Hussein’s Regime. The formal written Turkish is the second major source of the Turkish language in Iraq. Local dialects have not found their place in written literature. Turkmen have adopted formal Anatolian Turkish for written language. Up until the 16th Century, the literary works of Turkmen were in an Azeri dialect and this could, perhaps, be named old Anatolian Turkish. However, from the second half of that century and onwards, the written literature of the Turkmen came under the influence of the rising Ottoman language that carried a western Turkish dialect. The Turkmen have continued with their preference for Anatolian Turkish by using Arabic characters in their education and literature. Turkmen writers have followed the simplification movement in Turkish literature. Although it was already lagging, it came to a halt in 1975 when the Iraqi government banned all publications, even newspapers and magazines, from Turkey. This forced Turkmen writers to work self-sufficiently, relying solely on Turkish radio broadcasts. After the fall of Saddam Hussein’s Regime, the Turkmen culture and languages stared to revive. Eventually on the 19th August 2003, Turkmen broadcasting started. This trend continued in the year 2004 when first newspapers started to get published under the names of Al_Huda, Turkmen Eli, Al_Qala_ Kirkuk, Somer, Isek, Kardeslik, Safak and so on. Gradually, hundreds of books were published in writing, majority being in the Turkish language, the trend escalated, and these written books started to appear on the internet, thereby, playing a tremendous role in reviving and promoting the Turkmen language and literature. There were other factors that also augmented this trend of revival of the Turkmen culture, education and language after being subjected to years of neglect by Saddam Hussein’s Regime for 35 years. A few examples include broadcasting the Turkmen language by Turkmeneli Television; training the Turkmen teachers; and educating the Turkmen Students in the Turkish Universities.

11 Mr. Ersed Hermuzli, Kardeslik, (Alakhe) Brotherhood magazine, Page 16, issue (7), October, year 1961. 12 http://www.middleeastexplorer.com/Turkey/Tal-Afar

14 1.5 RELIGION OF THE TURKMEN

The old religions of the Turkmen were Al_Shamaniya, Judaism, Buddhism and Zaradishet. The Turkmen converted to Islam after Islamic forces conquered central Asia. Most Turkmen are Muslims. The Muslim Turkmen are divided into two Muslim sects: Shiite and Sunni. The Sunni Turkmen are further divided into Hanafi and Shafei. The Turkmen religion in Turkmeneli structure Sunnis and Shiites. They are in close contact with each other and intermarriages are usually a common practise between the two sects. In the city of Altin Kopru, the Turkmen are Sunni. Saying that, the Turkmen in Turkmeneli have never considered themselves as Sunni or Shi’aa; rather they associate themselves with an identity of being Turkmen first. After the occupation of Iraq by the Americans, British and Kurdish militia in 2003, the sectarian identity came to the forefront amongst the Iraqi people. This was a classic example of a ‘divide and rule’ policy used by the powers of the region at the time to allow less opposition and a more seamless ruling technique. The outside powers tried several times to divide the Turkmen so they can turn against each other: however, this strategy failed especially in the Turkmen district of Telafer.

1.6 THE WEATHER IN ALTINKOPRU

The weather in the Altin Kopru is quite distinct and can easily be classified into four seasons; winter, spring summer and autumn. It is cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Average temperatures follow a similar gradient, with the mountain valleys generally experiencing colder winters than the foothill zone, while summers in the latter are hotter. During summers, many families from Kirkuk head to Altin Kopru for picnics and to avoid the extreme summer heat. Altin Kopru that is strategically covered with tress along its river provides the best refuge from the scorching summer heat. Unfortunately, the lack of organisation and a limited number of life guards on the coastal sites has resulted in many people losing their lives to the river every year.

Figure (13) scenery from Altin Kopru photos by Ali Kassap

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Figure (14) picnic in Altin Kopru

The Little Zab passes through Altin Kopru and two dams have been constructed on the Little Zab, called the Dukan dam and the Dibis dam. The Dukan Dam was constructed between 1957 and 1961 and its primary functions are to: regulate the flow of the Little Zab; store water for irrigation in its reservoir called Dukan Lake; and to provide hydroelectric power.

Figure (15) Dibis Dam photo by panoramio.com

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Figure (16) Dibis dam photo by panoramio.com. The dam is located directly north of the district of Dibis (Numera Sekiz) in Kirkuk. The main purpose of the Dibis dam is to divert water from the little Zab River into the Kirkuk Irrigation project.

The Dibis dam is located approximately 130 kilometres upstream from the confluence with the Tigris. The Dibis dam was constructed between 1960 and 1965. The dam provides water for the Kirkuk Irrigation Project to irrigate the land. The dam has a capacity of 4,000cms through the spillway and 278cms through the head regulator (diversion to the Kirkuk Irrigation Project). Inflow is from Dukan dam and is approximately 140 km upstream. The Little Zab River passes through Altin Kopru, with its source originating in Islamic Republic of Iran before it joins the Tigris River in northern Iraq. The river is approximately 400km long. The river is fed by rainfall and snowmelt, resulting in a peak discharge in spring and low water volumes in summer and early fall.

The Little Zab rises in the Zagros Mountains in Iran. In its upper reaches, the course of the Little Zab is determined by the alignment of the major mountain chains that make up the Zagros. Thus, the river flows through valleys that are predominantly aligned to a Northwest-Southeast axis, parallel to the major mountain chains of the Zagros, only to change its direction abruptly where it cuts through these chains in narrow gorges. The Little Zab enters south of Dukan, where it first assumes a roughly westward course before turning to the southwest upstream from the town of Altin Kopru and eventually uniting with the Tigris River near the town of Shaykh. Most tributaries join the Little Zab upstream from Dukan. A number of smaller streams join the Little Zab in the Ranya Plain.

Different estimates have been given for the length of the Little Zab. The Little Zab forms the border between Iran and Iraq. In addition, andalong its lower course, it also constitutes the border between Erbil governorate which is controlled by KDP leaders, Mustafa Barzani and Suleimaniyah governorate and the PUK leader, Jalal Talabani.

17 The river is fed by snowmelt and rainfall, resulting in a peak discharge in the period February to May, whereas low water levels are recorded for the period July to October. On the north, it is bordered by the Great Zab basin, while on the south it is adjoined by the basins of the Al_uthaim and Diyala rivers. The parallel mountain ranges of the Zagros consist of limestone folds rising to elevations over 3,000 metres. Water erosion has filled the Little Zab valley and the foothill zone south-west of the Zagros with layers of gravel, conglomerate, and sandstone. The Ranya Plain is the largest valley in the Little Zab drainage basin, and the second-largest in the Iraqi Zagros behind the Sanjak of Mosul Vilayet.The Little Zab crosses very diverse climatic and ecological zones. Annual precipitation along the course of the river diminishes from over 1,000 millimeters in the Iranian Zagros to less than 200 millimeters at the confluence with the Tigris River. The river valleys are characterized by water-loving plants, although the foothill zone especially the plain of Erbil is heavily cultivated and it is a common sight to seepatches of natural vegetation.[13]

1.7 ADMINISTRATION

Administratively, Altin Kopru was a part of Kirkuk but after the formation of the district of Dibis (Numera Sekiz) by the Baath Regime, it was made the sub district as a part of the newly established district of Dibis. In Altin Kopru, there are five primary schools, one secondary school, one high school and one main hospital. At present, Altin Kopru is a sub district linked to the province of Kirkuk.

13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Zab#cite_note-IraqiMinistries2006a64-1#cite_note- IraqiMinistries2006a64-1

18 1.8 ART AND CRAFT

The city of Altin Kopru is extremely famous for a plethora of reasons, including its agriculture products, beekeeping, handcrafting and fishing. The people in district are heavily involved in the fishing. Various types of fish are found in the Altin Kopru. The fertile lands of the district made it a suitable territory to produce vegetable and other products. The sub district’s cryptographic, aesthetic and natural beauty especially the areas that are surrounded by the tree’s forests, make it very appealing to visitors and travellers from throughout Iraq. The city has notorious character and is extremely popular for its handcrafts products including; pottery, baskets, textures, carpets and woodcraft (scalper). In addition, a large section of the population works in governmental administration.

Figure (17) handmade basket made of leaves of wheat stalks

Figure (18) handmade baskets made of wheat stalks soaked in water for a day then each stalk was divided into two parts by a sharp cutting blade. The half stalks were rolled around a bundle of uncut stalks to form beautiful baskets.

19 1.9 SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS

There are several primary, intermediate and secondary schools in Altin Kopru. The primary language used to teach is Arabic. However, after the fall of the Saddam Hussein’s government several schools who taught through Turkish and Kurdish opened.

Figure (19) the primary school of Shaheed Kopruleri photo was provided by Cetin Abdulkarim

Figure (20) the pupils of the school of the primary school of Shaheed Kopruleri photo was provided by Cetin Abdulkarim

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Figure (21) students school trip

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Figure (22 A) Primary School of Altin Kopru photo was provided by Cetin Abdulkarim

Figure (22B) Primary School of Altin Kopru photo was provided by Cetin Abdulkarim

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Figure (23) playing yard of school photo was provided by Cetin Abdulkarim

Figure (24) playing yard of school photo was provided by Cetin Abdulkarim

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Figure (25) this is list of the name of the headmasters for the Altin Kopru School which were established in 1920

Figure (26) headmaster office photo provided by Cetin Abdulkarim

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Figure (27) school playground photo was provided by Cetin Abdulkarim

Figure (28) School playground photo was provided by Cetin Abdulkarim

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Figure (29) 28 Mart Karshlik Okulu, 28 Mart Mixed School photo provided by Cetin Abdulkarim

Figure (30) the pupils of the school of the primary of 28 Mart Karshlik Okulu photo was provided by Cetin Abdulkarim

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Figure (31) the primary school of Altin Kopru for boys’ photo was provided by Cetin Abdulkarim

27 1.10 ALTIN KOPRU HEALTH CENTRE

The Altin Kopru health centre is a small medical practice which provides basic medical treatment and health advice for the public. The health centre is run by a few doctors who residents there are providing all medical services 24 hours a day. For more complicated cases the patient is provided with initial treatment there before transfer by ambulance to alternate more equipped hospitals such as the city of Kirkuk hospital for the rest of the patient’s treatment. The health care centre often deals with emergency cases such as new-born births, car accidents as well as injuries inflicted from explosions and bullets. Despite the health care centres location in an extremely volatile area this does not hinder the treatment the patients receive.

Figure (32) main entrance for the Altin Kopru Health Centre

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Figure (33) the garden for the Altin Kopru Health Centre

Figure (34) Dr. Merwa Adnan Kerkuklu one of the female Turkmen doctors in the Altin Kopru Health Centre

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Figure one of the medical departments of the Altin Kopru Health Centre

Figure (35) other entrance door to the Altin Kopru Health Centre

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Figure (36) Figure the garden for the Altin Kopru Health Centre

Figure (37) the garden for the Altin Kopru Health Centre

31 2.0 CHAPTER TWO

2.1 UPRISING 1991 KURDS & SHI’AA UPRISING AND MASSACRE OF THE TURKMEN IN ALTIN KOPRU

Almost immediately after Iraq accepted the ceasefire on 3 March 1991, uprisings began to spread from dissident areas in the north and south of the country. Shi’aa in Basra, Najaf and Karbala in southern Iraq took to the streets in protest the Regime. Turkmen and Kurds in the north persuaded the local military to switch sides. Sulymaniya was the first large city to fall. Within a week, the Kurds controlled the Kurdish Autonomous Region and the nearby city of Kirkuk. In mid-February, President Bush Snr. had called on the Iraqi people and military to take matters into their own hands. But the hope for US support never materialised. Instead, Iraqi helicopter gunships arrived. Civilians and suspected rebels were executed in masse, and hospitals, schools, mosques, shrines and columns of escaping refugees were bombed and shelled. During the uprising in March 1991 against the Iraqi regime, the inhabitants of the Altin Kopru had decided to leave the town after they heard that Kirkuk was re-taken by the Iraqi regime and was accompanied with looting, burning property and summary execution were taking place. With news of the summary executions, opposition to the Iraqi regime quickly spread to Altin Kopru. To avoid reprisal, persecution and revenge from the Iraqi secret service and republican guard, the inhabitants of the town decided to escape and shelter in safe areas. The fleeing population from Altin Kopru were ambushed and rounded up by the Iraqi army. This entailed terrible consequence: all males were separated from females; and the Iraqi armed forces and Iraqi secret service executed hundreds of Iraqi Turkmen and Kurds on the spot. It took two weeks from this despicable crime against the civilian people before the relatives of the dead people could be recovered and to be buried by their families. The Iraq government then confiscated the properties of these martyrs. The dead were buried in a mass grave by Saddam’s Special Forces and their bodies were later founding a mass grave in Dibis, near Kirkuk. The names of the Turkmen martyrs are shown in the list below. [14]

Lists showing the name of the Turkmens were executed in Altin Kopru by Saddam Hussein’s Regime.

1. Abbas Salah Sait,1973- Kirkuk, student 2. Abdullah Kaya, Taze Khurmatu, retired 3. Abdusselam Resit Hasan,1972-Altin Kopru, solider 4. Adil Bayiz Hursit,1972-Kirkuk, Student 5. Adnan Halit Menden,1958-Altin Kopru, civil servant 6. Ahmet Enver Abdullah,1942-Kirkuk, merchant 7. Ali Abdullah Kaya, Taze Khurmatu, student 8. Ali Huseyin Abbas Mali, Taze Khurmatu, solider 9. Amir Midhat Izzet,1960-Altin Kopru, military personnel 10. Atilla Ahmet Enver,1976-Kirkuk, student 11. Atilla Nasih Bezirgan, Kirkuk, student 12. Ayat Kadir Rahman,1966-Kirkuk, solider 13. Aziz Ali Sait,1955-Altin Kopru, retired 14. Cabbar Siddik, 1957-Kirkuk, solider 15. Celil Fethi M. Ahmet,1945, Kirkuk, retired

14 sacrifice and suffering, the Iraqi Türkmen’s struggle to survive by Scott Taylor, page 16, ISBN1-895896-36- 3, printed in Canada by Trico Group

32 16. Cemal Ahmet Farac, 1962, Kirkuk, military personnel. 17. Cemal Sukur Saki, Taze Khurmatu, labour. 18. Cengiz Mazlum Nuri,1968 Altin Kopru, civil servant. 19. Cengiz Haydar Behram, Taze Khurmatu, solider. 20. Cetin Esat Bahcet, 1974, Altin Kopru, Student. 21. Erdal Ihsan Mahmut,1972, Altin Kopru, Student. 22. Ersat Hursit Resit,1955, Altin Kopru, teacher. 23. Eyup Salah Sait,1975, Altin Kopru, student. 24. Fazil Cihat Fettah,1954, Kirkuk, civil servant. 25. Halil Fethi M. Ahmet,1945, Kirkuk, retired 26. Hamit Garib, Taze Khurmatu, solider 27. Hani Mithat Izzet,1970, Altin Kopru, student. 28. Hasim Haydar Behram, Taze Khurmatu, solider 29. Hasim Mehmet Tevfik,1966, Altin Kopru, civil servant 30. Haydar Geydan, Taze Khurmatu, farmer 31. Hasim Ihsan Ali,1971, Altin Kopru, solider 32. Hazim Enver Abdullah, Altin Kopru, civil servant 33. Huseyin Ali Ahmet,1958, Kirkuk, military personnel 34. H.A Ekber Suleyman, Taze Khurmatu, student. 35. Ihsan Ali Feyzullah,1932, Altin Kopru, farmer. 36. Ihsan Mahmut Veli,1940, Altin Kopru, retired. 37. Imad Mehmet Resit,1960, Kirkuk, civil servant. 38. Isam Mithat Izzet, 1962, Altin Kopru, student. 39. Isam Osman Cemil,1964, Kirkuk, contractor 40. Ismail Sukur Silav, Taze Khurmatu, solider 41. Kasim Mehmet Tevfik,1962, Altin Kopru, civil servant. 42. Mansur Mazlum Nuri,1967, Altin Kopru, solider 43. Mehmet Attar, 1940, Kirkuk, Teacher 44. Mehmet Halit Menden,1952, Altin Kopru, teacher. 45. Mehmet Resit Veli,1925, Kirkuk, Retired 46. Melik Faysal Suleyman,1966, Altin Kopru, Sergeant 47. Muazzam Osman Ali,1958, Kirkuk, 48. M.Suleyman Iskender, 1957, Altin Kopru. 49. Necat Taki, Kirkuk, retired 50. Necip Sait Salih,1957, Altin Kopru, civil servant 51. Nevzat Kadir Rahman, 1968, Kirkuk, student 52. Nihat Abdelkarim Ali, 1965, Kirkuk, student 53. Nizamettin S. Hamdi, 1958, Kirkuk, civil Servant 54. Nurettin Terzi,1944, Kirkuk, Taylor 55. Nuri Mazlum Nuri, 1971, Altin Kopru, solider 56. Orhan Abdurrahman ,1967, Kirkuk, solider 57. Osman Cemil, 1930, Kirkuk, Merchant 58. Omer Hurshit Salih,1936, Altin Kopru, civil servant 59. Sabah Ahmet Hamdi, 1944, Altin Kopru, retired 60. Saddam Resit Hassan, 1971, Altin Kopru, student. 61. Saip Tatar Kadir, 1955, Altin Kopru, engineer. 62. Salah Sait Salih,1958, Kirkuk, self-employed. 63. Settar Rahman Aziz,1945, Altin Kopru, labour 64. Suud Hattap Osman, 1967, Altin Kopru, solider 65. Sahap Ahmet Farac, 1961, Kirkuk, self-employed

33 66. Sahin Nasih Bezirgan, Kirkuk, student 67. Sa'lan Faysal Suleyman,1967, Altin Kopru, solider 68. Sukur Hamdi Mehmet, 1932, Kirkuk, retired 69. Tarik Bayiz Hursit, 1963, Kirkuk 70. Turan Ahmet Enver, 1974, Kirkuk, student 71. Yasar H. Abdurrahman,1965, Kirkuk, solider 72. Zaim Ismail Hasan, 1961, Altin Kopru, mmilitary personnel 73. Zeynelabidin E. Neccar, Taze Khurmatu, labour 74. Zeynelabidin Ibrahim, Taze Khurmatu, student

On 1st March 2005, the Turkmen martyrs’ names on the commemorating sign in Altin Kopru were vandalized and deliberately disfigured by the Kurdish militia with graffiti. The sign was created in remembrance of the massacre of more than 135 Turkmen by the Ba’ath regime during the uprising of 1991. This action, carried out by the paramilitary militia, was designed to terrorize and provoke the Turkmen population clearly brought to light the hostility and hatred felt by the Kurdish paramilitary militia towards the Turkmen. To many, this hatred was not new. It had previously manifested itself in other encounters: for example, when it involved Kurds in northern Iraq pretending that they will grant Turkmen cultural rights, but never making good on their promises.[15][16] After the uprising of the 1991, the corpse of the executed Turkmen by Saddam Hussein’s security forces was found in the dump near Altin Kopru. The corpses were left there for a couple of days, because the families and the relatives of the executed people were scared to go and collect their relative to be buried. However, after three days, families in Altin Kopru made their way to find the dead bodies of their families who were then buried in Altin Kopru’s cemetery. Unfortunately, the burial rights were quite simple since Saddam Hussein’s government had also banned any burial memorial for them. However, after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s Regime, a commemorating plaque for the Turkmen people who were executed was established in Altin Kopru that brought some solace to the grieving families. Albeit, this was also short-lived since the plaque was vandalised several times by the Kurdish militia as shown in the figure.19.

Figure (38) the Turkmen martyrs’ names on the commemorating plaque before and after being vandalized in Altin Kopru, Turkmeneli

15 Sacrifice and Suffering, the Iraqi Turkmen’s Struggle to Survive by Scott Taylor, page 83, ISBN1-895896- 36-3, printed in Canada by Trico Group. 16 Mofak Salman Kerkuklu, Report of Kurdish abuse in Turkmeneli, 2009, Ireland, ISBN 978-0-9555-489-2-5

34 The commemorating plaque was later replaced by the Turkmen with a modern design as shown in the figure.22. On 28thMarch of each year, Turkmen people and political parties visits the cemetery and put a wreath under the commemorating plaque

Figure (39) Turkmen students and Turkmen political party members commemorating the execution Day of the Turkmen by the Saddam Hussein regime

Figure (40) graveyard for the Turkmen executed by Saddam Hussein regime during 1991 uprising

35

Figure (41) new monument of the Martyrs built this year 2017.The Turkmen martyr’s name of the 1991 uprising engraved on the memorial panel

Figure (42) Turkmen students and political party members commemorating the execution day of the Turkmen by the Saddam Hussein regime

36 2.2 POLITICAL SITUATION

The Turkmen people in the city were subjected to the Arabization policy which was carried out by Saddam Hussein’s government. The Turkmen were subjected to a series of arrests and imprisonment by the Baath party and these numbers in 1980s were staggering even when compared to the era revolution of the 17th July 1968. During the Ba’ath regime many Turkmen intellectuals were arrested, imprisoned and executed in 1991. Due to the Arabization policy, a mass destruction ensued: Turkmen villages were destroyed; Turkmen agricultural lands on both sides of the road between Kirkuk and Altin Kopru, Erbil were confiscated; and eventually distributed to the Arabs tribes and to the pro-defunct Ba’ath Regime. Saddam Hussein’s Regime built many military bunkers and military compounds along Kirkuk and Altin Kopru road to protect the Arabs settlers from being attacked by the Kurdish rebels. The solider within the barracks were also used to quell any uprising that might occur in the north of Iraq. After the fall of Saddam Hussein’s Regime in 2003, the Turkmens, Arabs and Chaldo Assyrians had high expectations of the interim administration established after 9th of April 2003. The Turkmen expected to see democracy, justice, equality, fairness, no- discrimination, and the right to self-determination and an end to violence. Unfortunately, their expectations were not met. On a complete contrary, the human rights situation in Iraq worsened, specifically for the Iraqi Turkmen In order to suppress the Turkmen voice in northern Iraq, the Kurdish militias established several puppet Turkmen parties to serve their own purpose. All the Turkmen parties, which were established by the Kurdish militia, are of Kurdish origin and working for the Kurdish party and all the bodyguards are from the Kurdish militia. The Turkmen parties established by the Kurds are designed to divide the Turkmen people and are used to smear the name of the Turkmen Republic in Iraq and to discredit the real representatives of the Turkmen. The demographic changes that were carried out by the Kurds after 2003 were way surpassed by Saddam Hussein’s government in their 35 years of reign. The city was changing: a wave of Kurdish migrants moved to Kirkuk; and with the help of both Kurdish parties, large stretches of the recently build house popped up everywhere. Visually, the city didn’t look the same. The Turkmen and the Arabs see the mass Kurdish migration as a potential political manoeuvre and attempt at a demographic takeover. Most of the returned Kurds were not from Kirkuk or ever lived in Kirkuk before. The theory was that if these Kurds were indeed genuinely from Kirkuk, they should at least endeavour to re-claim their lost properties. However, this was not witnessed in this case. Instead, these Kurds settled and lived in the football stadium and other properties belonging to the previous government or military camps and houses belonging to the previous Iraqi army compound. The economic, political, and cultural aspects for the Turkmen completely changed when the Kurds brought over approximately 700,000 settlers to Kirkuk from the north of Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran. Most of the returning Kurds settlers were not originally from Kirkuk but were brought to Kirkuk with the help of two Kurdish parties. In the meantime, both Kurdish parties resorted to a more aggressive ethnic cleansing policy by changing the demography of the Kirkuk. For instance, the Kurds who were deported by Saddam Hussein’s government from Kirkuk and were currently working as civil servants at the Kurdish controlled province such as Sulymaniya were forcibly transferred to Kirkuk against their will. They were further prevented from purchase of any lands or properties in the city of Sulymaniya. They were also forced to register their children in Kirkuk even though they were born in Sulymaniya. All these examples clearly illustrate the degree of demographic changes utilized by the Kurds in north of Iraq.

37 After the fall of the Saddam Hussein government in the year 2003, the demographic structure of Kirkuk seriously changed and was distorted by the Kurdish, backed by armed Peshmerga forces. Both the Kurdish parties backed by the Kurdish militia commenced bringing thousands of Kurdish settlers into Kirkuk in order to change the demographic structure of the city. The Kurdish settlers poured into Kirkuk not only from Kurdish cities in northern of Iraq but they were brought from Turkey, Syria and Iran. The Kurdish settlers occupied government houses which were previously held by the regime of Saddam Hussein, also the Kurds occupied the government buildings, football stadium, military camps, and Ba’ath Party Head Quarters claiming to be original residents but that was not the case. The Kurdish demographic structure continued and intensified in the city of Kirkuk by grabbing more Turkmen and government lands and carrying out a severely violent campaign by forcing the other ethnic groups out of their place by using violence, intimidation, kidnapping and force repatriation. During the Kurdification campaign in Kirkuk, the most affected ethnic group in Iraq was the Turkmen. The Turkmens were kidnapped, arrested, imprisoned and assassinated by the Kurdish secret service known as Asayish. The Turkmen were subjected to brutal campaigns by the Kurdish militia and Asayish in Turkmen Eli, an often more brutal fashion on Turkmen and Kurds by Saddam Hussein Arabization policy in the seventies of the last century.

During the Arabization policy the Saddam Hussein regime expelled thousands of Turkmen and Kurds from Kirkuk to change the demography of the town by encouraging the Arab population to migrate and settle in the city of Kirkuk. After the fall of the Saddam Hussein government, the Kurdish parties commenced their own Kurdification policy by changing the demography of the city of Kirkuk. Within seven years of the fall of the Saddam Hussein government. The Kurdish parties created a massive influx of Kurdish migrants to Kirkuk. According to the Iraqi governmental records the population in Kirkuk on the 10th April 2003 was 810,000 inhabitants but after the occupation of the city of Kirkuk by the Kurdish militia, the population had exceeded 1.5 million.

The Kurdish parties brought over 700,000 Kurdish settlers from Northern Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran. During the Kurdification of the city of Kirkuk, the Kurds utilized the similar techniques used by the Israeli government for ethnic cleansing of the Arabs in Palestine. During the Kurdification period, the Turkmen and Arabs were kidnapped, assassinated, imprisonment, arrested, forcibly repatriated and their lands were confiscated. The Turkmen lands were taken and distributed to the Kurdish militia members whom were originally not from Kirkuk.

After 2003, the demographic structure of Kirkuk had completely changed, seriously altered and distorted by Kurds, backed by armed Peshmerga forces, they migrated into the city in large groups claiming to be original residents, but in the reality most of the returning Kurds were not originally from Kirkuk.

The new Kurdish settlers were brought to Kirkuk with the help of the two Kurdish parties in order to change the demography structure of the city and to win the referendum that was planned to be carried out by December 2007, so that the Kurds will be annexed the city of Kirkuk to the Kurdish regional government. In the meantime, the Kurds claimed these Kurdish returnees were forcibly expelled from their homes by the government of Saddam Hussein during the 1980s and 1990s. As a matter of fact, the Kurdish Regional President Mr. Barzani declared that only 250,000 Kurds, including Turkmen were expelled from Kirkuk by the previous Saddam Hussein government, while in fact and according to the Iraqi official information that was obtained from Saddam Hussein government

38 ,after the fall in 2003 it clearly showed that the actual numbers of the deportees from all ethnic groups in Kirkuk according to the ration cards until 30th March 2003 was 11,568 people. This clearly shows that the Kurdish party officials being untruthful and misleading.

Figure (43) Historical photo taken on the Altin Kopru Bridge, this photo clearly demonstrates only Turkmen with traditional dress. The photo shows there is no single Kurds with traditional dress in the photo. This shows clearly the original inhabitant of the town of Altin Kopru, photo by Bozkurt Koprulu

Figure (44) Turkmen with their traditional dress in Altin Kopru

In addition to, an article was published in the Kurdish Al_taakhi newspaper reported prior of the fall of the Saddam Hussein government the number of people that were expelled from Kirkuk by Saddam Hussein exceeded 60,000 whereas the sstatistical data were taken from the Ministry of Commence, showing the number of people who have been transferred to/out of Kirkuk according to ration cards. For instant, in the provincial elections were held in Iraq on 31 January 2009 the

39 Sunni Arabs in Mosul decided to participate in the election as the consequences the Sunni Arabs in Mosul won the overall whelming majority of seat in Mosul. In response of the Sunni Arabs, victory in Mosul, the Kurdish politician and parties have rejected the Sunni Arab won in Mosul and have refastened to participate in the collation government in Mosul that was established by the Arabs. In the view of many of Iraqi and international observer the Kurds has a dream to establish a state of Kurdistan and the Sunni Arabs wining in Mosul was a setback to Kurdish dream. In the view of many Iraqi the Kurds should realise, accept the reality that the city Mosul and the surrounding areas are not a part of Kurdistan, and accept the provincial election results that were held in Iraq on 31 January 2009 as democratic election. Many Iraqis believe that greater Kurdistan cannot be achieved without controlling more strategic areas such as Kirkuk and Mosul, which the Kurds do lay claim to, Kirkuk and Mosul are disputed territories. At present, the Kurds cannot realize their dream, due to the weakness of the economical resources, lack of the geographical interconnectedness, lack access of the seaport and opposition of the neighbouring countries. The Kurds have a plan for a great Kurdistan but at the present time, it would not be suitable for the Kurds to declare it. According to the Ministry of Commerce, the number of Kurds who were deported from Kirkuk under the Arabisation policy by the previous regime was 11,685. However, after the occupation of Kirkuk by the Kurdish militia, the number of Kurds brought by both Kurdish parties from outside of Kirkuk city and surrounding areas exceeded 700,000.

Figure (45) Kurdish frauds report to the voting centre in the Turkmen City of Altin Kopru, Iraq, where young Kurds from northern Iraq are casting their votes. Chlorine (bleach). The above photos show Kurdish voters caught red handed in Altin Kopru, Iraq.

40 Figure (46) Kurdish frauds report to the voting centre in the Turkmen City of Altin Kopru, Iraq, where young Kurds from northern Iraq are casting their votes. The ink that was used could easily be washed off with some chlorine (bleach). The above photos show Kurdish voters caught red handed in Altin Kopru, Iraq.

Figure (47) Kurdish frauds report to the voting center in the Turkmen City of Altin Kopru, Iraq, where young Kurds from northern Iraq are casting their votes. The ink that was used could easily be washed off with some chlorine (bleach). The above photos show Kurdish voters caught red handed in Altin Kopru, Iraq.

Figure (48) Kurdish frauds have been reported at the voting center in Turkmen City of Altin Kopru, Iraq, where young Kurds from North of Iraq were casting their votes. The ink that was used could easily be washed off with some chlorine (bleach). The above photos show Kurdish voters were caught red handed in Altin Kopru Iraq.

In Altin Kopru the Kurds replaced Turkmen observers and voters identifying members. The Kurdish police and Kurdish security forces were escorting hundreds of buses carrying Kurdish

41 voters from Erbil. [17] The Turkmen in Erbil were prevented from performing promotional activities for the Iraqi Turkmen from coalition list. Many Turkmen posters for promoting the election were destroyed by the Kurdish militia. In addition to unusual increase in the population of the following regions was noticed due to the participation of Kurds from Erbil and Sulymaniya in the election and this is demonstrated in table.1. [18]

Name of the region Original population During Election Township of Altin Kopru 11,560 17,711 Township of Shiwan 2,442 9,566 Township of Kara Incir 3,382 11,206 Azadi district (Kirkuk) 23,200 90,648 Rahimawa district (Kirkuk) 20,000 76,149 Table.1 showing the forgery electors participated in the election

Figure (30) Kurdish police waving a Kurdish flag during the election to provoke the Turkmen, in Kirkuk, Turkmen Eli

Figure (49) Kurdish police were waving a Kurdish flag to provoke the Turkmen again, in Kirkuk, Turkmen Eli

In the meantime, the Independent Electoral Commission for monitoring the election for the Iraqi parliament members from 13th to 15th December 2005 discovered a wide range of irregularities carried out by both Kurdish parties. The both Kurdish parties added 81,000 illegitimate Kurdish names to the voting list in Kirkuk and surrounding areas by providing them with forged documents in order to qualify them for the election.

17 Page 95 sacrifice and suffering, the Iraqi Turkmen’s struggle to survive by Scott Taylor, page 126, ISBN1- 895896-36-3, printed in Canada by Trico Group. 1818 The Iraqi Turkmen Struggle to survive sacrifice and suffering, by Scott Taylor, page 95, ISBN1-895896-36- 3, Printed in Canada by Trico Group

42 The Turkmen called upon the U.S. Ambassador in Baghdad, Zalmay Khalilzad, and the United Nation Representative for Iraq, Mr. Ishraf Kazi, to enforce this removal of these illegal voters through the Independent Electoral Commission. Document numbers 614/617, dated 9th December 2005 and 10th December 2005 respectively, stipulated that these illegal Kurds should not be allowed to vote because their involvement in the election would be a blow against democracy, and a breach of election rules. It was therefore shocking to see that the Independent Electoral Commission for monitoring the election for the Iraqi parliament members deviated from its decision and allowed the illegitimate Kurdish voters to vote. It was utterly unacceptable to see that the Commission bowed to Kurdish pressure and indicates that the Independent Commission was incapable of fulfilling its duty. In addition, the Turkmen of Iraq completely lost trust in the above Commission and called a United Nation representative in Iraq to urgently address the situation. Despite of the frauds that carried out by the Kurdish parties, but the United Nation representative took no action. However, after the fall of Saddam Hussein regime the Kurdification of Turkmen Eli increased and intensified by both Kurdish parties. The lands belonging to the Turkmen and government were confiscated and taken by the Kurds with the help of Kurdish militia. Turkmen township name has been changed to Kurdish name by force. The Kurds continuously have exploited the lack of stability, security and weak central government in Baghdad to rename of townships and village with Kurdish name. The Kurdification policy that was carried out by the Kurds after the fall of the regime was more effective than Arabization policy that was carried out by Saddam Hussein with last 35 years.

43

Figure (50) document show changing the name of Turkmen township to Arabic then to Kurdish by the Kurdish governor

44 Republic of Iraq Kirkuk Governate Governate Office

Issue: 3833 Date: 19/10/2010 To: All administration units in Kirkuk To: All official departments in Kirkuk

Subject: Changes

Her with enclosed a copy of the letter of the Minister Office/ Committee of the implementation of article 140 from the Legislation of Republic of Iraq, issue 380 which was released on the 17/10/2010 regarding to revoke the names of the districts and sub districts in the content of the letter to their previous names, please implement according to this letter and let us to know the result.

Abdulrahman Mustafa Fatah Kirkuk Governor 10/10

45

Figure (51) document show changing the name of Turkmen township to Arabic then to Kurdish

This is document shows the Kurds tried to change the name of the township of Altin Kopru to Burdyh and this name never been heard and used during the Iraqi history, but the Kurds tries to Kurdify the northern Iraq prior to declaration of their own state. Although Altin Kopru occupied by Kurdish militia belonging to the KDP, the population have been subjected to tremendous oppression and discrimination but still the Turkmen has great rule to play in the Altin Kopru. Republic of Iraq

46 Kirkuk Governate Governate Office

Issue: 380 Date: 17/10/2010

To: To the Kirkuk Governate office/the honourable Kirkuk governor

Subject: Changes

We would like to let you know that the irregular legislation for the Governate in the region number 21 for year 2018 has the dealt with the amendment the correction of the names according to article 7 per item 11from the legislation above. Please we would like to know your action toward the changing the names of the sub districts and districts to its previous names which was changes by the previous government that utilised a demography changes policy in the area.

• The district of Debis to Dowis • The sub district of Alqudis to Serkeran • The sub district of Um_almaarik to Kara Hassan • The sub district of Al_Rabeiea to Kara Ender • The sub district of Al_Nahein to Pardi

Raied Jahid Fahmi Ministry of Science and Technology Head of the Higher Committee

17/10/2010

47 2.3 THE KURDISH INDEPENDENT REFERENDON

Kirkuk was historically a Turkmen majority Iraqi town, but during the rule of the ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, thousands of Arab families were brought from southern of Iraq to Kirkuk, in the meantime Turkmen and Kurdish families were forced out of Kirkuk and surrounding region, to change the area's ethnography, under a policy termed "Arabization. After the fall of Saddam Hussein government, the Kurds began returning to Kirkuk with the help of the Kurdish militia, repopulating the city and its surrounding areas. The Kurdish parties began bringing Kurdish families from Syria, Iran, Turkey, city of Erbil, Sulymaniya and Dohuk settling them in Kirkuk while forcing the Turkmen and Arabs families out. The Kurdish objective resettling of the Kurdish families was to change the area's ethnography, under a policy termed "The Kurdification" policy in the event of an eventual referendum on whether the city should be part of a future Kurdistan or remain in Iraq.

Figure (52) percentage of ethnic groups in Kirkuk in 1957

In 2014, when the Iraqi forces fled Kirkuk the ISIS fighters attempted to secure the territory, shortly after taking over the city of Mosul and establishing their so-called Islamic caliphate across the northwest of the country. The Kurdish regional government, however, sent in their Kurdish militia and claimed the city of Kirkuk. The city of Kirkuk is important for the Kurdish Regional Government because of quarter of the Iraqi reserves oil are found in the area of Kirkuk and has one of the biggest oil fields in the country, where more than 6% of the world's oil comes from .In addition, Iraq has the world second largest proven oil reserves we are talking about a lot of money and a lot of power. After the fall of Saddam in 2003, the Kurdish regional government controlled the city of Kirkuk and the Kurdish regional government exported about 550,000 barrels of oil a day, including oil from fields near Kirkuk, earning about $8 billion annually.

Figure (53) the crude oil exported by the Kurdish regional government per a day

48 The earned profits from exporting oil were taken by the Kurdish regional government and none of the profits were spent on the city of Kirkuk. However, the Iraqi army pulled out from Kirkuk, while ISIS was advancing in Mosul in 2014. The Kurdish militia took complete control of the city filling the vacuum power left behind by the Iraqi military retreat and with the Iraqi’s having long said that eventually wanted ISIS eliminated and Kirkuk would have to return to the full control of central government in Baghdad. But the Kurdish regional government remained in Kirkuk and decided to carry out a referendum in three cities Erbil, Sulymaniya and Duhok which were controlled by the Kurdish regional government but later, the Kurdish regional government included other area into the Kurdish independent referendum which was not within the border of the Kurdish regional government under pretext these lands were a disputed land.

The Kurdish regional government decision of including the city of Kirkuk within the Kurdish independent referendum was completely opposed by the Turkmen, Arabs, and central government in Baghdad, Turkey, Iran, and all countries in the world accept Israel. The Israeli objective and goal are that to see a divided Iraq and weaken central government in Baghdad. Also, Israel has a lone plan and strategy to establish another state like Israel in northern of Iraq, which in future could be a lucrative market for Israeli military products, protect the Israeli security and Israel could use the Kurdish region for spying and gathering information about Iran nuclear activities and destabilizing the Turkish security and stability. The Kurdish independent referendum in Kirkuk totally boycotted by the Turkmen and Arabs, and both had refused to participate in the referendum. The Turkmens and Arabs in Kirkuk considered the Kurdish independent referendum as unconstitutional and against the will of the people in Kirkuk. The referendum alarmed many Arabs and Turkmens in Kirkuk whom wanted to live under Iraq’s central government, not under Kurdish regional control. But the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who was also serving as a member of the Knesset and Chairman of the Likud party fully and openly supported the Kurdish independent referendum. Indeed, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, “the Kurds have been and will continue to be reliable and long-term allies of Israel since they are, like us, a minority group in the region. “He added that the Kurdish referendum is “the legitimate efforts of the Kurdish people to attain a state of its own. The late Israeli President Shimon Peres had also supported Iraqi Kurds and their quest for statehood, with hundreds in the Kurdistan region paying their respects to the former Israeli president when he died in 2016. But this vocal support is new and precedes a much quieter policy of support that began shortly after Palestine was expunged to make room for the state of Israel in 1948. Beyond economic cooperation, Israel’s on-going policy of supporting Iraqi Kurdish separatism had also seen ties in the areas of agriculture, technology, education and sports. The first official acknowledgment that Israel had provided aid to the Iraqi Kurds extends as far back as 1980, when Prime Minister Menachem Begin revealed that Israel had supported them during their “uprising against the Iraqis between 1965 and 1975.” Israel had sent arms and ammunition then, later also helping with propaganda campaigns in Europe, courses for Kurdish medics, and creating schoolbooks in Kurdish. While this military aid “took a backburner between 1975 and the 90s” According to a report published in the New Yorker magazine in 2004, Israeli military and intelligence operatives were active in Kurdish areas in Iraq and provided training for commando units. Israel has also used Iraqi Kurdistan as a base from which to obtain intelligence on Iraq, Turkey also using it to gather intelligence on Iran when the Islamic Republic came to power in 1979. Mustafa Barzani himself, the most prominent Iraqi Kurdish nationalist leader, and the father of current KRG President Masoud Barzani, had gained the support of Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, during his numerous independences struggles against Baghdad.

49

Figure (54) Kurds flying an Israeli flag and Kurdish flags urging people to vote in the upcoming independence referendum

Figure (55) Kurds flying an Israeli flag and Kurdish flags urging people to vote in the upcoming independence referendum

Figure (38) Kurds flying an Israeli flag and Kurdish flags urging people to vote in the upcoming independence referendum

50

Figure (56) Photo of caricature commenting on the Kurdish independent referendum

The American’s also came with alternative proposal for the Kurdish independent referendum but Masoud Barzani rejected the American proposal which suggested cancelling the referendum and entering negotiations with Baghdad facilitated by the United States. The Kurdish independent referendum, which was a totally nonbinding referendum, was fully opposed by the Turkmens, Arabs and by all countries in the region except the state of Israel. Officials from Baghdad, Iran, Turkey, the UN and the US led coalition lobbied hard to exclude Kirkuk from the referendum, or to have the referendum postponed in all areas. The Kurdistan region's refusal to agree to these terms seems to have kick-started planning for ISF redeployment to Kirkuk.

51

Figure (57) The American released a statement showing that doesn’t support the Kurdish independent referendum

On the 25th of September 2017, the Kurdish independence referendum was held by the Kurds in areas under their control, including disputed city of Kirkuk, prompted Baghdad to change the post 2014 arrangement. The Kurdish authorities said the measure passed with a nearly 93% “yes” vote for independence. After carrying out a Kurdish independent referendum, the Kurds were celebrated by hosting and carrying of Kurdish and Israeli flags. This had angered a lot of people in the region especially in Iraq, the carrying out and waving of Israeli flags by the Kurds after the referendum was considered by many Iraqi as traitors. However, following the referendum, the Iraqi parliament voted in favour of dismissal of all the Kurdish public sector employees involved in the vote. Moreover, the Iraqi court ruled to arrest those behind an independent commission for holding a referendum.

In addition to, the United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated on the 24th of September 2017 that will not recognise the on the 25th of September 2017 in Iraqi Kurdistan. "The vote and

52 the results lack legitimacy and we continue to support a united, federal, democratic and prosperous Iraq" Tillerson said in a statement “Also the implementation of the referendum had angered Turkey, Iraq and Iran”. As the result of this an urgent meeting was carried out between these three counties in response to the independent referendum. In the meantime, the Prime Minister of Iraq, Haider al-Abadi warned against the Kurdish independence referendum and threatened to act against the Kurdish regional government unless the Kurds annulled the results of the illegal and unconstitutional 25th of September 2017 referendum, which was completely opposed and rejected by the Turkmens and Arabs whereas the Kurds were overwhelmingly in in favour of Kurdish independence.

Nevertheless, the central government in Baghdad put pressure on Iraq’s Kurd, demanding they cancel their overwhelming vote for independence while parliament urged the Iraqi central government to send troops to take control of vital oil fields held by Kurdish forces. Iranian and Turkish armies started joint exercises near their borders with Iraqi Kurdistan. Iraq and Turkey have also held joint military drills. Foreign airlines began suspending flights to Kurdish airports after the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority banned international flights to Erbil and Sulymaniya, but Kurdish authorities rejected Baghdad’s demands that they should annul the referendum as a condition for dialogue and hand over control of their international airports. After a week of meeting and negotiation between Iraqi, Turkey, Iran and Kurds Regional Government which led to a dead lock, forcing Iraq, Turkey and Iran to take actions to against the Kurdish Regional Government. In the meantime, the Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had demanded that Kurdish leaders to hand over all the oil fields in Kirkuk and other disputed areas that fell under Kurdish control. Also, the border gates to Iraq central government control. But the Kurdish regional government rejected the Iraq central government demands. After that an urgent meeting was held between the KDP and PUK leadership in Dukan, joined by Iraqi President Fuad Masum, also a PUK member, had ended with an affirmation of “national unity in the face of all pressure” and a refusal to cancel the referendum result, said Hemin Hawrami, senior assistant to Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani. The meeting in district of Dukan came after a tense night south of Kirkuk as the Peshmerga fighters were engaged in a standoff with Iraqi and Hashed al-Shaabi (popular mobilisation units) forces.

In the meantime, the armed Kurdish civilians took to the streets of Kirkuk, carrying arms and vowing to defend their lands. Again, both the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) “rejected any demands to nullify the referendum results,” They also refused to accept any preconditions for talks with central government in Baghdad. In addition to, the KDP brought a hundred of the P.K.K terrorists from Daquq and Qandil mountains to Kirkuk to participate in fighting against the Iraqi army and Hashed al-Shaabi. Bringing the PKK terrorists to Kirkuk had angered Iraqi government, the Turkmen and Turkish republic.

It was also shocking for the Turkmen people in Kirkuk to see the Kurdish parties support to international terrorists groups such as P.K.K and the Kurdish parties support did not stop there but the Kurdish governing council officially requested from the Kurdish police to open a headquarter for these terrorist groups in sub-district of Daquq which is known as Tawak in Turkmen language.

However, Najmaldin Omer Karim, a Kurdish governor of Kirkuk province, responded to this accusation with statement: “That’s absolutely not true. “I deny it.” Najmaldin Omer Karim stated “A handful of Iraqi Kurds who sympathize with the P.K.K.’s goals had arrived in Kirkuk over the weekend “. But he also stated that that they were not P.K.K. members or fighters, and that they were not armed but the photo as shown below clearly shows the P.K.K terrorist in Kirkuk, and this

53 clearly dismiss the statement of Najmaldin Omer Karim also shows his that he is untruthful and dishonest.

Figure (58) PKK terrorists in Kirkuk whom being brought by the Kurdish regional government

The PKK terrorists that were brought to Kirkuk and the surrounding region were a deliberate act by the Kurdish parties to change the demography of the Kirkuk and used to terrorise the Turkmens and the Arabs. It was ironic to see the KDP councillor of sub district of Daquq forwarding a confidential letter to chief of Kurdish police requesting to open a headquarter for the PKK terrorists in Daquq and although PKK is listed in the most of European, USA and Turkish terrorists list.

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Figure (59) Document shows the KDP councillor of sub district of Daquq forwarding a confidential letter to chief Kurdish police requesting to open a headquarter for the PKK terrorists in Daquq

55 Republic of Iraq Kirkuk Govern ring Committee District of Daquq Committee

Issue: 267 Date: 6/5/2015

To: The Daquq Police Station Subject: No objection

There is no objection from outside in opening a head quarter for the PKK in the district of Daquq with conjunction with Daquq police and security department for servicing the security of the citizen in Daquq.

With regards

Dr. Amir Khuda Keram Mohammed Head of the Daquq Council Committee

6/5/2015

Figure (60) Document shows the KDP councillor of sub district of Daquq forwarding a confidential letter to chief Kurdish police requesting to open a headquarter for the PKK terrorists in Daquq

56 The tensions in Kirkuk were high especially after the government’s news report released on Saturday the 14th of October 2017 warning the Kurdish forces to withdraw from Kirkuk. The statement warning them to leave was issued by Iraqi officials at approximately 2pm, the warning to leave was criticised by the Kurdish forces in Kirkuk. On the same day the Iraqi army dropped leaflets by air stating they will continue liberating the cities of Iraq until it is a unified country.

Sunday the 15th of October 2017 was the deadline given for the Kurdish forces to leave the disputed area or face unspecified consequences. The Kurdish totally ignored the call from the Iraqi government to leave, refusing to comply with the Iraqi government’s request.

Figure (61) leaflets were thrown to the citizens in Kirkuk by the Iraqi army encouraging the people to support the Iraqi army, as the Iraqi army continues to be liberated cities and towns throughout Iraq.

57 THE TENSE EVENING IN KIRKUK

In the weeks before the liberation of the city of Kirkuk, the Iraqi government in Baghdad moved to seize the landlocked region Kirkuk, shutting down overseas flights to the two Kurdish international airports in Erbil and Sulymaniya which were mainly controlled by the Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq. During late Sunday 15th of October 2017, the situation in Kirkuk become extremely intense and the Iraq’s foreign ministry that Iran announced at Iraq’s request, had closed its borders with Iraq bordering the Kurdish region. In the meantime, the situation on the ground in Kirkuk was unclear, the Kurdish police and security were scattered all over the city of Kirkuk and Kurdish party members were put into full alert. The city of Kirkuk was in chaos and the people were living in fear and uncertainty. The people of Kirkuk were worried about their future. The Kurdish armed police, Kurdish militia, local Kurdish security forces “Asayish “were scattered all over city of Kirkuk and they set a check point at every street. The Kurds were living also in fear and uncertainty. The Kurds were afraid and concerned from the reprisals of the local people in Kirkuk for the damage that had been caused to the local ethnic groups in Kirkuk while they were governing the city of Kirkuk. Whereas, the Turkmen parties in Kirkuk and Turkish government were continuously monitoring the situation ensuring the Turkmens in Kirkuk would not it be mistreated and abused by the Kurdish forces. The Turkmens were expecting the worse; they were expecting fierce fighting between the Iraqi forces and Kurdish militia. In the meantime, the Kurdish governor of the city Kirkuk, Dr. Najmaldin Omer Karim released a statement and called the public to fight the Iraq army and oppose their interventions in Kirkuk and described them as an occupier. He asked the locals to go to the street and stand against the Iraqi army, and Dr. Najmaldin Omer Karim stated to a Kurdish TV station that “the city of Kirkuk will be a graveyard for the Iraq army”, But ironically, Dr. Najmaldin Omer Karim was the first person who fled from the city of Kirkuk and steeling an estimated amount of over sixty millions dollars from the treasury in Kirkuk, whereas, his associate Kamal Karkokly, the Kurdish commander for the subdistrict of Debis area accompanied him during his escape without attempting to resist the Iraqi armed forces and popular mobilisation units “PMU” which is known as Hashed al-Shaabi in Arabic. Kamal Karkokly had played a tremendous role in changing the demography and ethnic structure of the city of Kirkuk by bringing thousands of Kurds from Turkey, Iran and Syria and placing them in Kirkuk to increase the Kurdish population. He was heavily involved in changing the demographic structure of the city of Kirkuk by appointing many Kurdish officials in Kirkuk governmental offices and forcing the Turkmen and Arabs from their offices. He was also heavily involved in the distribution of the lands of the Turkmen and governmental building to the Kurds whom were originally from the city of Kirkuk. In addition, he played an important role in placing armed Kurdish militia on the top of the Kirkuk castle and preventing the Turkmen from the preservation and restoration of the historical Kirkuk castle.

Kamal Karkokly was extremely racist, and he used various methods to eliminate and deface the Turkmen cultural identity and history in Kirkuk. He changed his surname to Karkokly just to smear the name of the Turkmen tribe whom are the indigenous people of the city of Kirkuk, they are known as Kerkuklu. Kamal Karkokly was heavily involved during the Kurdification campaign in Kirkuk and, he was wanted for theft, and was accused of corruption and bribery. However, prior to the liberation of the city of Kirkuk from the Kurdish militia, Kamal Karkokly released statement stating that “he

58 expected an attack by the Iraqi government forces at any time” and “If they try to attack, the result will be bad for them (Iraqi army) and for us, and for the whole region.”

Figure (62) Kamal Karkokly and Najmaldin Omer Karim who was the first to flee from Kirkuk ahead of the Iraqi army and popular mobilisation Units arrival

2.4 THE VOLATILE PERIOD IN KERKUK

By Sunday the 15th of September the situation in Kirkuk was getting worse, dangerous and extremely volatile, the people in Kirkuk were living in fear and anxiety. The Turkmen in Kirkuk were living in fear, uncertainty and they didn’t know what was going to happen to them and they were expecting the worse. The people in Kirkuk and the surrounding area started preparing themselves for war and the circumstance of that day in Kirkuk remained with the Turkmen until the 15th of July 1959, when the Kurdish communist militia and members of the communist party jointly massacred the Turkmen in Kirkuk. The massacre of the Turkmen lasted over three days without interference of the central government in Baghdad to stop it and the massacre caused the killing of many elite and prominent group of Turkmen people. However, on the night of the 15th of October 2017, the Iraqi Prime Minister Mr. Abadi accused Kurdish leaders of bringing fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party “PKK terrorist” from Turkey into Kirkuk even although the United States and European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization. In the meantime, the Prime Minister Mr. Abadi released a statement calling it “a declaration of war against the rest of Iraq and its federal forces” The PKK terrorists brought by the Kurdish militia to Kirkuk to fight against the Iraqi armed forces become clearly visible in Kirkuk. The PKK terrorists were stationed in various strategical locations in Kirkuk. The PKK terrorists’ members were heavily armed and wearing the distinctive uniform. In the view of many of Iraqi people that was a declaration of war against the central government. On the evening of the 15th of October 2017, the situation in Kirkuk was getting fearful and tense. Due to the volatile situation in Kirkuk being extremely tense and on the brink of erupting at any moment, the neighbouring countries especially Iran and Turkey were continuously monitoring the situation in Kirkuk. Also, there were very heavy diplomatic communications between Kurdish Regional Government and western countries which finally forced the Kurdish Regional Government Masoud Barzani to negotiate. A as result of that, late on Sunday the 15th the Kurdish Regional Government offered to negotiate with the central Iraqi government about Kirkuk and other issues surrounding it. However, the Iraqi Prime Minister Mr. Abadi had said “he will not negotiate unless the Kurds

59 annul the referendum results” which was carried out on the 25th of September 2017. Later, the Iraqi central government requested that the Kurdish Regional Government comply with the following demands which were handed to the members of PUK party in the city of Sulymaniya.

• Surrender of the Kirkuk military airport to the central government in Baghdad. • Surrender on the K1 military camp to the Iraqi central government. • Surrender all the oil wells in Kirkuk to the central government in Baghdad. • The ISIS fighters captured should be handed over to the central government in Baghdad. • The return of the Iraqi army to all the areas which were controlled by the Iraqi army prior being occupied by ISIS. • Comply with the central government’s decisions regarding the appointing of the Kirkuk governor Dr. Najmaldin Omer Karim.

60 3.0 CHAPTER

3.1 THE KURDISH DEFEAT IN KIRKUK AND THE LIBERATION OF ALTIN KOPRU

The Iraqi operation in the liberating the city of Kirkuk from by Kurdish forces, known as the Peshmerga began late Sunday 15th October 2017. In the view of all Iraqis the central government in Baghdad's determination to curtail the territorial ambitions of the Kurds in Kirkuk was imminent and the liberation of city of Kirkuk was welcomed by all Iraqi and especially the Turkmens. On the early Monday 16th of October 2017, Iraqi state television announced that Iraqi forces had begun an operation to seize the Kurdish-held city of Kirkuk and its surrounding oil fields, despite weeks of urgent efforts by the United States to keep tensions between its allies from boiling over into another war in the Middle East. In a brief statement released to the state-run network, Iraq’s prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, ordered troops to impose security in the area “in cooperation with the people of Kirkuk and the Peshmerga,” or Kurdish fighters. State-run TV said the initial assault by Iraqi troops, counterterrorism forces and federal police did not encounter resistance as they sought to reclaim areas seized by the Iraqi Army. During the liberation of Kirkuk, in Washington, the Pentagon urged the Kurds and Iraqi army in the region to focus on battling Islamic State militants and to avoid provoking disputes among Iraqis. However, on the afternoon, 16th of October 2017 the Iraqi security forces took direct control city of Kirkuk, driving hundreds of Kurdish Peshmerga forces from Kirkuk that had been under Kurdish militia control for more than two years. The Iraqi forces in Kirkuk set up checkpoints around its perimeter, while a sole Iraqi flag flew at top the Iraqi governor's headquarters. The building usually held both the Kurdish and Iraqi flags. During the liberation of Kirkuk from Kurdish forces, a twenty-two Kurdish terrorist were killed in the sporadic and disorganized resistance, while seven Iraqi soldiers also lost their lives. It was a remarkable setback for the Kurds, who just a few weeks ago held an independence referendum and trying to annex the city of Kirkuk to the Kurdish regional government. The ease with which Baghdad was able to reconquer Kirkuk, with hardly any resistance put up by the Peshmerga, came as a profound surprise to international observers. Yet the Iraqi Kurdish withdrawal did not stop in Kirkuk. By 16th of October 2017, Iraqi troops had fully taken control of several oil fields, including the key Baba Gurgur oil and gas field and the K1 military base, among other assets in city of Kirkuk. By Tuesday 17th of October 2017 afternoon, northern Iraq’s Kurdistan region had lost vast territories, some of which the KRG had controlled since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. During the liberation of Kirkuk from the Kurdish forces. The president of the Kurdish regional government Masoud Barzani assumed that American support would shield him from Iraqi retaliation when he called the referendum, but the American did ignore the plight of the president of the Kurdish regional government Masoud Barzani when the central government in Baghdad sent its troops into Kirkuk on 15th of October 2017. In the meantime, the Trump administration merely muttered some weasel words about not liking to see friends fight, and by 18th of October 2017 morning the area controlled by the KRG in Iraq had shrunk by almost half.

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Figure (63). The security forces units to Kirkuk

Figure (47) the Iraqi security forces on Kirkuk

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Figure (64) Iraqi federal police advance towards disputed city of Kirkuk

Figure (65) Iraqi forces advancing towards Kirkuk

Figure (66) locals’ wave to Iraqi forces as they arrive in southern Kirkuk

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Figure (67) people greeted the troops rolling through the streets with cheers

Figure (68) people greeted the troops rolling through the streets with cheers

Figure (69) the Turkmen sub district of Bulawa was liberated from Kurdish occupied forces by the Popular Mobilization Units

64 After the liberation the city of Kirkuk from Kurdish militia. The Kurdish regional flags were completely removed from the Kirkuk provincial government building; governmental buildings and they were replaced with the Iraqi national flags.

Figure (70) the Kurdish Regional government was removed from and the Iraqi flag was hosted above the Kirkuk provincial government

Figure (71) Iraq forces in the office of the accused thief and departed Kirkuk provincial government Dr. Najmaldin Omer Karim

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Figure (72) the Turkmen member of Iraqi parlimaent Niyazi Memaroglu sitting at the office of the departed Kirkuk provincial government Dr. Najmaldin Omer Karim after liberation of Kirkuk by the Iraqi army and PMUs

Figure (73) Iraqi kids pulling a Kurdish in the street after the Kurdish militia fled Kirkuk

Figure (74) barriers with defaced Kurdish flags are seen outside of an evacuated checkpoint in the village of Bashir south of Kirkuk Iraq Friday Oct. 13, 2017

66 In the meantime, the Kirkuk governor Dr. Najmaldin Omer Karim and a large numbers of Kurdish police chiefs who were brought from outside of Kirkuk via KDP, fled from Kirkuk prior retake the city by the military operation by the Iraqi army and Popular Mobilization Units. In addition to, the Kurdish regional government security forces whom known as Asayish fled Kirkuk without putting any resistance and took with them all Turkmen and Arabs prisoners whom were kidnaped and imprisoned in Kirkuk prior Iraqi army and popular mobilisation Units arrival. During the liberation of Kirkuk, the Kurdish fighters left Kirkuk in rush and left behind them their ammunition which were provided by the USA and Other European governments. It was a shock for the Iraqi people, to see Kurdish troops trained and well equipped by UK, USA, and Germany, flee the city of Kirkuk without putting any resistance.

The Kurdish militias deserted Kirkuk for several reasons; one of the reasons was that the Kurdish forces had a lack of planning. The desertion of the Kurdish force’s leaderships from Kirkuk prior the arrival of the Iraqi army, the technical and military superiority of the Iraqi army, the lack of motivation among the Kurds for fighting because Kirkuk is not a part of Kurdish regional government. Finally, most of the Kurdish militia in Kirkuk were not from Kirkuk. They were mainly linked to the Kurdish terrorist militias in Syria and PKK terrorists.

After the victory of the Iraqi army, the KDP Kurdish fighters blamed their defeat in Kirkuk on the rival Kurdish party PUK for betrayal and siding with the Iraqi central government but the reality this was not the case, since the security of Kirkuk was completely controlled by the KDP militia.

In the view of many of the analysis and politician in Iraq, the Kurdish defeat in Kirkuk was mainly to the low morale of the Kurdish fighter’s and due to the Kurdish fighters, police, and security whom were presents in Kirkuk were not representing the indigenous people of the town. The Kurdish people were brought from various placed to Kirkuk and they had no sympathy of the Turkmen whom were the indigenous people of the Kirkuk. The Kurdish fighters present in Kirkuk were considered by the Turkmen and Arabs as occupier. During the liberation of Kirkuk, the Turkmen supported, welcomed the Iraqi army and the Popular Mobilisation Units which were mainly formed by the Turkmens Shia’a from district of Telfer.

Figure (75) The Popular Mobilisation Unit which were mainly formed by the Turkmens Shia’a from district of Telfer prior liberating Kirkuk in 2017

67 In a stunning collapse, Peshmerga units loyal to the de facto Kurdish president, Masoud Barzani, pulled out of the towns of Bashiqa, Khanaqin and Sinjar less than a day after surrendering the city of Kirkuk to the Iraqi military and allied Shia forces. The withdrawals and the defeat of the Kurdish troops on 17th of October 2017 shattered ambitions of the Kurds after the Kurdish failure in the referendum on independence held on 25 September. The rapid fall of Kirkuk gave impetus to the capitulation across northern Iraq, with forces loyal to Baghdad sweeping unopposed into areas that military leaders thought they would have to fight for. Instead, Iraqi troops found empty streets, shuttered shops and primitive roadblocks, which were quickly cleared, before the relaxed arrivals took up their new positions. During the liberation of Kirkuk from the Kurdish occupation, the Turkmens welcomed the PMU and the Iraqi army. There were a jubilation and celebration in all Kirkuk. The people in Kirkuk ran into the street showing their support, jubilation and welcoming the Iraqi army, people offered food and water to the incoming Iraqi soldiers and PMU members.

Figure (76) Kurds crossing a Kurdish checkpoint in Altin Kopru set up by Kurdish Peshmerga

Figure (77) a Peshmerga rests on the side of the Erbil - Kirkuk road after his unit fled Kirkuk, following a military operation by the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units to retake the city of Kirkuk

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Figure (78) Kurdish Peshmerga Commander crying after they had been defeated by the Iraqi army and the Popular Mobilization Units in Kirkuk

Figure (79) PKK terrorists s on the streets of Kirkuk putting a resistance against the Iraqi army and popular Mobilisation Units and the PKK terrorists listed in the USA, UK, Turkey and most European terrorist list

Figure (80) PKK terrorists on the streets of Kirkuk putting a resistance against the Iraqi army and popular Mobilisation Units and the PKK terrorists listed in the USA, UK, Turkey and most European terrorist list

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Figure (81) an Iraqi soldier removes a Kurdish flag from Altin Kopru on the outskirts of Irbil

Figure (82) US supplied equipment Kurds including tanks, being used to bulldoze images of Iraqi Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani

After the defeat of the Kurds in Kirkuk, the Kurdish party KDP stated, the Kurdish defeat was caused by agreement reached between Bafel Talabani, eldest son of former President Jalal Talabani, and Hadi al-Ameri the head of the Popular Mobilization Units. The deal on Kirkuk between the central government and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) was established a new authority in the Halabja-Sulymaniya-Kirkuk area, to be jointly administered by the Iraqi government and the PUK for an undefined period.

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Figure (83) Kurds were fleeing Kirkuk prior liberation of Kirkuk by the Iraqi army and PMU’s

The Peshmerga General Command accused members of the PUK, a political party within the Kurdistan region, of abandoning their posts as Iraqi forces entered, in what it described as a betrayal. Some Kurdish civilians took up arms and deployed to the streets to ward off the Iraqi army operation, while the Kurdish officials fled Kirkuk. The Kurdish militia, police and security police who were responsible for the death, killing, arrest and kidnapping fled the Kirkuk town. The Kurdish security police also evacuated all the prisoners’ in Kirkuk and they also took the detained with them, whose status where unknown. The fall of Kirkuk was expected by the Iraqi, because the Kurds lost all the support of the main Turkmen ethnic group in Kirkuk, secondly the distrust and division between of the two Kurdish parties PUK and KDP. Since the presence of the Kurds in Kirkuk was for economical reasons the local people of the town did not put any fight towards the Iraqi armed forces. In addition to the amount of damage caused by the Kurdish governor Najmaldin Omer Karim to the Turkmen and Arabs, made both ethnic groups support the central government and PMU. Moreover, the Kurdish militia abandoned their positions in Taza Khormatu, Terkalan, Yaychi, Bashir, Terkalan, Bulawa, Daquq, Altin Kopru, and Taza Khormatu without any resistance. However, the defeat and the failure of the Kurdish militia to fight against the Iraqi central government forces and PMU, the Kurdish militia began discriminately firing over 100 artillery shells and mortar bombs on the innocent Turkmen sub district of Altin Kopru causing lot damage to the civilian houses and panic among the people. The objective and the goal of the Kurdish militia was to cause terror and panic among the Turkmen and Arabs citizen who were living in Altin Kopru, however the Iraqi army quickly took required measures to stop the Kurdish shelling. After the liberation the city of Kirkuk, most of the Iraqi people demanded the Iraqi army should carry on pushing the Kurds out of the city of Erbil, but the pressure that was applied on the Iraqi government from France, USA and UK made the Iraqi army to stop at the Alton Kopru.

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Figure (84) damages caused by artillery and mortar shells fired by the Kurdish militia on the Turkmen houses in Altin Kopru

Figure (85) damages caused by artillery and mortar shells fired by the Kurdish militia on the Turkmen houses in Altin Kopru

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Figure (86) damages caused by artillery and mortar shells fired by the Kurdish militia on the Turkmen houses in Altin Kopru

Figure (87) damages caused by mortar shells fired by the Kurdish militia on the Turkmen houses in Alton Kopru

73 Index Muslim, 15 A I O Altunkoperi, 34 Iran, 13 Azeri, 13, 14 Iraq, 4, 13, 14, 34, 37 occupation, 4

C K S

campaign, 38 Kerkuk, 13, 38, 42 Saddam Hussein, 38 cultural, 4, 34 Kirkuk, 4, 38 Salman, 4 Kurdistan, 38 Syria, 13 E L T Erbil, 13 land, 13 Telafer, 13 F language, 13, 14 Turkey, 13, 14, 37 Turkmeneli, 4, 13, 42 flag, 42 M

militia, 34, 37

74 Mofak Salman Kerkuklu graduated in England with a BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Oxford Brookes University and completed an MSc in Medical Electronics and Physics at London University and an MSc in Computing Science and Information Technology at South Bank University. The author was born in Turkoman sub district of Alton Kopru in district of Numra Sekiz (district of Debis). He is also a Chartered Engineer from the Institution of Engineers of Ireland. Mr Mofak Salman is the author of Brief History of Iraqi Turkmen, Turkmen of Iraq, Turkoman city of Tuz Khormatu and A report into Kurdish Abuse in Turkmen Eli. He has had many articles published in various newspapers and websites.

ISBN: 978-0-9555489-8-7

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