ORSAM POLICY BRIEF 180 JULY 2021

SITUATION OF THE TURKMENS IN THE 62ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE MASSACRE

Adil Zineelabdin

INTRODUCTION around Kirkuk and operated against the Brit- ish army, resulting in the implementation of any massacres were committed an exclusion policy targeting the Turkmens against the Turkmens, the third larg- M by the British. est segment of the society in the Kingdom of that was established in On 14 July 1959, the massacre of Kirkuk 1921 by the British. In order to fight against took place, which targeted the Turkmen the British occupation during the period of presence in Kirkuk and its vicinity, and con- kingdom, anti-British groups were formed stituted one of the biggest tragedies for the Situation of the Turkmens in the 62nd Anniversary of the Kirkuk Massacre

Iraqi Turkmens. Before the Assoc. Prof. Necdet Koçak, massacre against the Turk- Colonel Abdullah Abdurrah- mens in Kirkuk in 1959, the man, Dr. Rıza Demirci and Adil British forces had been mas- Şerif. Later in the same year, sacring the Turkmens of Tel approximately 70 Turkmen in- Afar, who ignited the Iraqi re- tellectuals shared the same volt of 1920. The first attempt fate. In the following years, at massacre in Kirkuk against during the Baath regime, more the Turkmens who resisted the than 100 Turkmens were killed British occupation forces took and their leaders were hanged place on 4 May 1924. There during the massacre of Al- were efforts to portray the tun Kupri in 1991, which is the event, where 56 Muslims and second biggest trauma for the The date of 14 several Christians lost their Turkmen people. While hun- July 1959 marks lives while 110 people were dreds of executions and as- the Massacre of injured, as a Christian-Muslim sassinations were committed Kirkuk, in which the conflict.1 The situation further against the Turkmen society Turkmen presence deteriorated in 1946 when in different regions during the in and around workers, who were working Baath regime, the Turkmens Kirkuk was targeted under harsh conditions in oil have been faced with serious and which is one companies in Kirkuk, started a human rights violations after the biggest traumas strike that resulted in most of 2003 by terrorist organizations experienced by the them to be arrested. Around such as al-Qaeda, ISIS, PKK Iraqi Turkmens. 20 people, mostly Turkmens, as well as by different armed However, the lost their lives when the secu- groups. killings of the rity forces opened fire.2 Turkmens did not The 1959 Kirkuk Massa- end with the 1959 The date of 14 July 1959 cre, which holds a critical im- massacre. marks the Massacre of Kirkuk, portance in the memory of in which the Turkmen pres- the Turkmen society, is also ence in and around Kirkuk was considered a turning point for targeted and which is one the Iraq. The 1959 Kirkuk Massa- biggest traumas experienced cre stands out as an import- by the Iraqi Turkmens. Howev- ant development that led to er, the killings of the Turkmens the overthrow of the socialists, did not end with the 1959 mas- who increased their influence sacre. On 16 January 1980, in Iraq with the November the regime coup. As a matter of fact, after hanged the Turkmen leaders the Kirkuk Massacre, the Iraqi

1 Azizi Kadir Samancı, Tarih el-Siyasi li-Turkman el-Irak, Darul Saki, Beyrut 1999, pp. 124 2 Mahir Nakip, Kerkük ve Haviyatuha el-Kavmiye, (Çev: Habib Hürmüzlü), Kerkük Vakfı, 2008, pp. 123.

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Turkmens commemorate the victims of the 14 July Massacre. public started to turn against the socialists; 1. THE SITUATION OF TURKMENS and the massacre, which was welcomed by DURING THE PERIOD OF the nationalists, marked the beginning of the KINGDOM end for socialist influence in the country. De- Turkmens, who had the right to choose spite the strong reaction to the massacre, no to settle in according to the Articles step seems to have been taken in the poli- 30-36 of the Treaty of Lausanne of 24 July tics against the victimization and exclusion 1923, did not abandon their homeland and of Turkmens in Iraq, which has undergone chose to stay in Iraq.3 Like other communi- rapid and radical changes since 1959. ties in Iraq, the Turkmens fought against the British for the establishment of a national One could argue that the seeds of hostil- government in Iraq, alongside other resis- ity between ethnic and religious groups liv- tance movements in the north and south ing in Kirkuk were sown with the Kirkuk mas- of the country. After the British gained full sacre. This article thus presents suggestions control over Iraq in 1918, the resistance of and ideas lest similar events take place be- the Turkmens against the British occupation tween the Turkmens and other groups living continued. During the Iraqi rebellion that in Kirkuk and other regions. started in 1920, the Turkmens showed signif-

3 Şakir Sabir el-Zabıt, Mucez Tarih el-Turkman Fil Irak, Marif Basımı, 2007 Bağdat, p. 68.

www.orsam.org.tr 3 Situation of the Turkmens in the 62nd Anniversary of the Kirkuk Massacre

icant resistance against the British in Kirkuk, right to education in their own language. Tal Afar, Tuz Khourmatu and the surrounding However, despite these binding legal provi- villages of Bayat, Khaneqin and Mandali. The sions, the Turkmen language was taught as “Kaçakaç” incidents that started in Tal Afar a foreign language in Kirkuk for a few hours are one of the important factors that trig- a week from 1931 to 1937, when the courses gered the 1920 Iraqi Revolt.4 were completely cancelled.6

Turkmens in Iraq stood against the im- As the educational and cultural rights of position of the kingdom regime on the peo- the Turkmens were snatched away by the ple by the British. Due to their anti-British state, the teachers in the Turkmen regions stance, they were prohibited from publish- were sent to other regions in Iraq. In addi- ing newspapers in Turkmen (Turkish) lan- tion, the attacks by the Levi forces against guage, despite the freedom of expression Turkmens in the Kirkuk Citadel in 1924, and guaranteed by the 1925 Iraqi Qanun al-Asasi the 1946 Gavurbağı incidents reveal the op- (the first constitution of modern Iraq).5 In ad- pression against the Turkmens by the Brit- dition, Turkmens were not allowed to partic- ish-backed governments. Turkmens, who ipate in political parties and were deprived were excluded from politics, were kept as of their political rights. Despite the Article 16 workers and lower-class employees in oil of the Qanun al-Asasi, which provided that companies in Kirkuk. The systematic exclu- all ethnic groups can open schools in order sion policies of the British against the Turk- to receive education in their own language, mens excluded them from decision mech- schools providing education in Turkmen anisms. were banned. The Turkmen officers in the After 1931, courses in Turkmen in Arbil during the monarchy period were also known and other Turkmen regions outside Kirkuk to be against the occupation at that time. For were cancelled. This decision of the Iraqi example, Ömer Ali Bayraktar played an im- government was in violation of the provi- portant role in the 1948 Israeli-Arab war and sions of the Local Languages Law No. 74 inflicted great defeats on the Israeli forces by of 1931, according to which the language of acting against the instructions of the British education in primary schools in and to Nuri Said. The representation of Turkmens Sheikhan districts in province, Ar- in the Iraqi government was limited during bil and Makhmur districts in Arbil province, the monarchy period. In the government and Kirkuk and Qifri districts in Kirkuk prov- established in 1925 under the presidency of ince shall be in the mother language of the Abdurrahman Nakip, Izzet Pasha, who was majority of the students. Iraqi Prime Minister of Turkmen origin, temporarily served as Nuri Said stated to the League of Nations in the Minister of Education, then as the Min- 1932 that the ethnic groups in Iraq had the ister of Health and the Minister of Labor and

4 Cafer Telaferlı, Mucaz Tarih Telafer, 2012, p. 79. 5 Habib Hürmüzlü, Meczeret Kerkuk Temmuz 1959, Fuzuli Basım ve Yayım Evi, Kerkük 2020, p. 17. 6 Habib Hürmüzlü, Tarih el-Talim fil Irak ve Abaduha el-Kanuniye”, ORSAM, (E.T. 04.06.2021), https://www.orsam.org.tr/ar/history- and-legal-dimension-of-turkish-education-in-iraq/

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Transport, before submitting Qasim, increased their activ- his resignation in the following ities in the Turkmen regions, period.7 The representation of particularly in Kirkuk. Even in the Turkmens in the Iraqi gov- the first months of the 1958 ernment was weak, and many revolution, tensions increased Turkmen leaders and intellec- and small-scale clashes took tuals were exiled. place between the Turkmens and socialist radical Kurdish 2. IMPORTANT EVENTS groups, which were appeased BEFORE THE 1959 before further escalation.8 KIRKUK MASSACRE In 1958, a rift emerged be- Turkmens, who were ex- tween Abd al-Karim Qasim cluded by the British during and the military junta that the monarchy period, pinned overthrew the kingdom. A dis- hope on the reforms to be agreement arose between Socialist Kurdish brought by the republic estab- Prime Minister Abd al-Karim groups, accusing lished by Qasim in 1958. How- Qasim, and Abd al-Selam Arif, the Turkmens of ever, this hope proved to be who wanted to join the Unit- working for Turkey short-lived as the 1958 Con- ed Arab Republic. Since all by claiming that stitution and the practices in- nationalist movements were they had pictures troduced by the new adminis- against him, Qasim relied on of the Ottoman the Iraqi Socialist Party to bal- tration ignored the Turkmens. Sultans and Mustafa ance the Arab nationalists. In- Turkmens were excluded in Kemal Atatürk at creasing its influence on the the new constitution enacted their homes and police and the army, the Iraqi after the coup of Abd al-Karim cafes, aimed to Socialist Party established or- Qasim, in which it was empha- provoke the people ganizations such as “Peace sized that Iraq was established of Kirkuk. Supporters”, “People’s Resis- as a result of the cooperation tance” and “Democracy Youth”. between Arabs and Kurds and that it was a part of the Arab The Turkmens, who were world. As this situation restrict- the majority in Kirkuk until the ed the life of the Turkmens 1958 coup (excluding the at- in Iraq, the pressure on the tempt by Kurdish groups to Turkmen regions began to in- register some Turkmen fami- crease, and the socialist Kurd- lies as Kurdish in the 1957 cen- ish groups, especially those sus) led a quiet life at peace supported by Abd al-Karim with other ethnic groups. 9

7 Habib Hürmüzlü, Meczeret Kerkuk Temmuz 1959, pp. 17. 8 Bilgay Duman, “14 Temmuz 1959 Kerkük Katliamı ve Türkmenlerin Bugünü”, (E.T. 03.06.2021), https://orsam.org.tr/tr/14-temmuz-1959-kerkuk-katliami-ve-turkmenlerin- bugunu/ 9 Hürmüzlü, Meczeret Kerkuk Temmuz 1959, pp. 19.

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A few months prior to the 1958 coup, movement in Iraq, they became the target Mayor Fadhil Talabani of Kirkuk wanted to of various negative practices. While expect- name a newly-built hotel in Mecidiye Street ing the turning of a new page, the Turkmens in Kirkuk (with Turkmen majority) as “Sirvan were faced with the July 1959 Massacre. Hotel”. Giving the name of a river in The Socialist Party of Iraq, allied with radical district to an important hotel in Kirkuk was Kurdish groups, wanted to reduce the Turk- met with reactions by the Turkmens. Lat- men influence in Kirkuk who were against er, the hotel was named as Kirkuk Hotel. In socialist ideas. Although the actions taken in addition, another action that provoked the this direction caused disturbance among the Turkmens was the printing of an Eid greet- Turkmens, they did not resort to violence. ing card in Kirkuk, which showed a Kurdish soldier and a map of Kurdistan that includ- 3. THE MASSACRE OF KIRKUK ed Kirkuk. This card, printed before the Eid Between March and June 1958, Turkmen shortly after the proclamation of the repub- were removed from state institutions and lic, was perceived by the Turkmens as a sign trade unions and were replaced by figures that their region would be taken over by mil- itary force. This action caused anger among of Kurdish origin from the Socialist Party of 11 the Turkmens and the issue reached as far Iraq. Turkmens, especially in Kirkuk, were as Abd al-Karim Qasim. After the proclama- dismissed from their local government posts tion of the republic, radical socialist Kurdish and those who lacked adequate manage- groups made propaganda about the expul- ment and administrative qualifications were sion of the Turkmens from Kirkuk. Socialist assigned to their place. Turkmens’ centuries Kurdish groups, accusing the Turkmens of old rule in the states they built (emirates and working for Turkey by claiming that they had principalities) in Iraq and later in the Ottoman pictures of the Ottoman Sultans and Musta- period naturally provided them strong ad- fa Kemal Atatürk at their homes and cafes, ministrative capabilities. For this reason, even aimed to provoke the people of Kirkuk.10 during the British colonial period, figures of Turkmen origin played an important role in After 1958, socialists who wanted to be the administration, especially in Kirkuk.12 So- active in Kirkuk dismissed the Turkmen of- cialists, who were disturbed by the fact that ficials from the army and police forces in Kirkuk, and many of them were transferred the Turkmens held administrative positions from Kirkuk to other provinces. In addition, in government institutions in Kirkuk, sent re- due to the allegations that the Turkmens ports to Qasim in which they accused Turk- had participated in the coup attempt of Abd mens of working for Turkey. Different polit- al-Wahhab al-Shawaf, their houses were ical parties sought to control Kirkuk during constantly searched for weapons. Even the period when the 1959 Kirkuk Massacre though the Kirkuk Turkmens returned to took place, as a significant portion of Iraqi oil their homes after the decline of the socialist was exported from this region.13

10 Samancı, Tarih el-Siyasi li-Turkman el-İrak, pp. 141. 11 Nuri Talabani, Mantıkat Kerkuk ve Muhavalat Tagyir Vakiha el-Kavmi, 1999, pp. 60. 12 Samancı, Tarih el-Siyasi li-Turkman el-İrak, pp. 17. 13 Talabani, Mantıkat Kerkuk ve Muhavalat Tagyir Vakiha el-Kavmi, pp. 51.

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Kirkuk Kayseri Bazaar restored by TIKA

After the proclamation of the Iraqi Repub- close to socialists.14 However, as the social- lic, Commander Nazim Tabakcali of the Sec- ists gradually increased their activities and ond Company of the Iraqi Army, who chaired influence in the armed forces, especially in the National Cooperation Commission es- the “People’s Resistance” force, the viola- tablished to prevent the escalation of ten- tions they committed throughout Iraq made sions between ethnic and religious groups Qasim give up his policy of relying on the so- living in Kirkuk province, maintained good cialists. On 11 June 1958, Qasim released all relations with the Turkmens. It is also stated political prisoners and allowed the expelled that Tabakcali’s wife is a Turkmen. However, Turkmen civil servants to return to Kirkuk. before the massacre took place, Tabakcali In mid-June 1958, Qasim met with Turkmen was accused of participating in the Shawaf leaders at the Iraqi Ministry of Defense. As coup attempt and was expelled from Kirkuk. part of Qasim’s change of policy, Command- It was claimed that Turkmens were also in- er Davoud al-Janabi of the Second Com- volved in the coup attempt carried out by pany of the Iraqi army in Kirkuk, who was the Arab nationalists based in Mosul. Tabak- known for his socialist views, was replaced cali, who is known to be an Arab nationalist, by an Arab nationalist commander. Thus, the was replaced by Davoud al-Janabi, who was commanders who supported the socialists

14 Talabani, Tarih el-Siyasi li-Turkman el-İrak, pp. 59.

www.orsam.org.tr 7 Situation of the Turkmens in the 62nd Anniversary of the Kirkuk Massacre

and Kurds were replaced with in the first year of the Repub- commanders who preferred lic with their Turkmen identity Turkmens. Therefore, political as a result of the competition tensions mounted in Kirkuk. in Kirkuk. After Qasim’s am- The socialists were disturbed nesty decision in June 1959, by the release of the Turk- Turkmen leaders hoped that men leaders and the return a new era would begin for the of the Turkmen civil servants Turkmen society. On the oth- who had been expelled due to er hand, with the rapproche- Turkmen identity.15 ment of the Turkmens with , the socialists made Before the massacre took contacts with the Turkmen The 1959 Kirkuk place, political polarization leader Ata Hayrullah to draw massacre, which between the nationalists (Ar- the Turkmens on their side. directly targeted the abs and Turkmens) and the However, the socialists’ ef- Turkmen identity socialists (Iraqi Socialist Party forts to increase their activities in Kirkuk, sought to and Kurdish groups) in Kirkuk, among the Turkmens were un- spread terror among had had grave consequenc- successful because the Turk- the Turkmens es for the Turkmens. Social- mens had not adopted social- in order to make ists back by radical Kurdish ist views. For this reason, the them leave Kirkuk. groups who wanted to take political parties, who falsely Therefore, the mobs Kirkuk into their sphere of in- accused the Turkmens of es- behind the killings fluence took a stance against tablishing secret groups that tortured the dead the Turkmens, who controlled embraced “Turanism”, “Turk- bodies of some the trade unions in Kirkuk. The ism” and “Turkmanism”, played Turkmen leaders return of the prominent Turk- an active role in the massacre. and committed mens to the province with the During the visit of Mullah Mus- the murders by amnesty decision of the Iraqi tafa Barzani to Kirkuk in Oc- shouting slogans prime minister in 1959, pushed tober 1958 upon the amnesty against the these groups to plan attacks decision of Qasim, crowds pro- Turkmens. against the Turkmens. With voked the Turkmens by chant- the brutal massacre, it was ing slogans such as “Down planned to create fear among with Turanists, Turkish agents the Turkmens and break their and reactionaries”.16 influence in Kirkuk. The Turkmen and Arab Turkmens, who were ex- commanders in Kirkuk were cluded from politics during the accused by the powerful so- monarchy, showed a desire to cialists and Kurds among the actively participate in politics army forces in Kirkuk of sup-

15 Hürmüzlü, Meczeret Kerkuk Temmuz 1959, pp. 33, 34. 16 Samancı, Tarih el-Siyasi li-Turkman el-İrak, pp. 144.

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Names of the Turkmens who were killed in the massacre, Source: https://www.anadoluimages.com/p/kerkukteki-turk- men-katliaminin-60-yili/16655374 porting the Abd al-Wahab al-Shawaf move- Since the Iraqi government did not intervene ment. The Turkmens, who wanted celebrate to prevent the incidents targeting the Turk- the first anniversary of the Republic - sepa mens, the massacre lasted for three days. rately from the socialists and who did not This massacre perpetrated against the Turk- want to give the impression that they were mens was the beginning of the initiatives under the control of the socialists, started targeting the existence of the Turkmens in the preparations for the celebration early. Kirkuk. Hundreds of Turkmen-owned busi- For this reason, the “People’s Resistance nesses were looted during the Kirkuk mas- Forces” were deployed in Kirkuk to suppress sacre. The feature that distinguishes the the celebration activities of the Turkmens Kirkuk massacre from previous events is and claimed that Turkmens were engaging that it was a systematic and planned massa- in activities related to “Turanism”.17 cre that targeted the presence of the Turk- mens in Kirkuk. In addition, the fact that the The “People’s Resistance Forces” car- massacre took place as an attack against ried out a massacre in Kirkuk on 14 July 1958 predetermined leaders rather than as a sud- against the Turkmens who were celebrat- den development, reveals that it was carried ing the first anniversary of the Republic and out within the scope of an intimidation pol- the return of the released Turkmen leaders. icy against the Turkmens living in Kirkuk for

17 Samancı, Tarih el-Siyasi li-Turkman el-İrak, pp. 144.

www.orsam.org.tr 9 Situation of the Turkmens in the 62nd Anniversary of the Kirkuk Massacre

centuries. After the predetermined Turkmen - Cahit Fahrettin / Official at the Electricity leaders and intellectuals were killed, they Department were buried by the perpetrators in an area along the Kirkuk-Suleymaniyah road. It is - Nuraddin Aziz / Pharmacist also known that Turkmen leaders were tor- - Zuheyir İzzet / Tea Seller in the neighbor- tured in the streets during the massacre. The hood of Şaturlu Citadel of Kirkuk, the symbol of the province and a historical heritage, was attacked and - Osman Hızır / Owner of the 14 Temmuz the Turkmens living there had to abandon Tea Shop their homes.18 The 1959 Kirkuk massacre, which directly targeted the Turkmen identi- - Hasib Ali ty in Kirkuk, sought to spread terror among - Enver Abbas the Turkmens in order to make them leave Kirkuk. Therefore, the mobs behind the kill- - Kazım Pektaş ings tortured the dead bodies of some Turk- - Cuma Kamber men leaders and committed the murders by shouting slogans against the Turkmens. - Fatih Yunus The dead bodies of the Turkmens killed in the Kirkuk massacre were hung from elec- - Abdulhalik İsmail tric poles and trees.19 In the Kirkuk massa- - Abdullah Ahmet cre, 27 people lost their lives20, 137 people (all Turkmen except 6) were injured, and the - Şakir Zeynel workplaces and homes of 324 people (all Turkmen except two Arabs, 11 Christians, 3 - Kasım Neftçi Kurds) received financial damage through - İbrahim Ramazan looting21. - Adil Abdulhamit Names of the Turkmens who were killed in the massacre: - Kemal Abdulsamet

- Ata Hayrulllah / Commander, Major - Haç Necim Abdullah

- İhsan Hayrullah / Captain, Doctor - Cihat Fuat

- Seyit Nakip - Nihat Fuat

- Selahaddin Avcı / Owner of Alemeyin - Emel Fuat Movie Theater - Ali Ahmet Neftçi - Muhammet Avcu / Owner of Alemeyin Movie Theater - Sadık Rıza Salih

18 Hürmüzlü, Meczeret Kerkuk Temmuz 1959, pp. 39. 19 Nakip, Kerkük ve Haviyatuha el-Kavmiye, pp. 165. 20 Hürmüzlü, Meczeret Kerkuk Temmuz 1959, pp. 53 21 Hürmüzlü, Meczeret Kerkuk Temmuz 1959, pp. 50.

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4. THE QASIM GOVERNMENT’S cres against Turkmens targeted their pres- APPROACH TOWARD THE ence in Iraq, especially in Kirkuk. Later on, MASSACRE Turkmens became subject to demographic changes in different periods. The Military support arrived in Kirkuk from policies targeting the presence of Turkmens Baghdad on 15 July 1959 to stop the Kirkuk in Kirkuk were intensified during the Baath massacre incidents. Following the massa- regime. Therefore, the demographic bal- cre, the Iraqi government took certain mea- ance in Kirkuk turned against the Turkmens. sures. In the meantime, some forces affiliat- After 2003, the Kurdish political parties re- ed with the Iraqi army had been deployed lied on their power acquired in the north to the southern provinces of Iraq and did of Iraq and implemented a policy of intim- not intervene in order to stop the massacre. idation against non-Kurdish elements until Later, a committee was established to inves- October 2017. Eliminating the impact of de- tigate the Kirkuk massacre under the chair- manship of a commander of Turkmen origin, mographic changes that caused the death Abdullah Abdurahman. The death penalty of hundreds of people in Kirkuk, especially was imposed on 28 people related to the the Kirkuk massacre, is important for harmo- incident, who were executed after the 1963 ny among different groups. Otherwise, the coup attempt.22 bitter memories between different commu- nities living together will make it difficult to On the other hand, Iraqi, Arab and Turk- achieve peace and unity. It is reported that ish media condemned the massacre and 300 voters were added to the Kirkuk elec- brought it to the agenda during the period toral registry by the Kurdish political parties of Abd al-Qarim Qasim. Speaking at the Mar for demographic change.24 Unless the ex- Yusuf Church in Baghdad on 19 July 1959, clusion policies implemented by the Arabs Qasim blamed the leftists in Iraq for the after October 2017 are abandoned, the dis- Kirkuk massacre. In his speech, Qasim called trust among the constituent communities of socialists “anarchists”. However, Qasim’s Kirkuk will continue. The implementation of condemnation of the socialists by showing the policies aimed at demographic change the journalists the photos of brutally mur- in Kirkuk can be described as the continu- dered Turkmen leaders, was interpreted as a result of Turkey’s sensitivity toward Turk- ation of the Kirkuk massacre targeting the mens.23 Turkmen identity.

5. TURKMENS’ PROBLEMS AFTER Turkmen political parties should bring the incidents such as the Kirkuk Massacre THE 14 JULY PROCESS AND THE and the abduction of Turkmen women and SOLUTION PROPOSALS children by ISIS in Tal Afar in 2014 to the at- Kirkuk Massacre on 14 July 1959 was nei- tention of international platforms and the ther the first, nor the last. Most of the massa- families of the victims should be provided

22 Nuri Talibani, s. 63. Ayrıca bkz. Nakip, Kerkük ve Haviyatuha el-Kavmiye, pp. 163. 23 Nakip, Kerkük ve Haviyatuha el-Kavmiye, pp. 151. 24 “Bayati: Kanunul İntihabat el-Cedid Seynhi, Ağlabiyet el-Kurd fi Kerkuk”, (E.T. 05.06.2021), https://www.facebook.com/ jaasimjaffar/posts/1298854360276576

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with necessary compensation and rights. ernment agreed to pay salaries to the Shiite Turkmen political parties and non-govern- Arabs exiled by the Baath regime in line with mental organizations may engage in activ- the Rafha Law adopted in 2006, it did not ities for the recognition of the Kirkuk Mas- provide material and moral compensation sacre as “genocide” by international orga- for the massacres committed against the nizations, since it was the beginning of the Turkmens before 2003. Such inequality may systematic assimilation and annihilation negatively affect the national consciousness of the Iraqi Turkmens. In this context, the of the Turkmens toward the Iraqi State. In or- massacres since 1959 may be lodged with der to overcome the injustices against the the UN and the European Court of Human Turkmens, the Turkmen deputies can pro- Rights through the cooperation of Turkmen pose laws to the Iraqi parliament to provide lawyers and political parties. the necessary material and moral compen- sation to the families of Turkmens who were When the Iraqi Parliament adopted the massacred before and after 2003. In fact, Martyrs Institution Law No. 2 of 2016 on despite the abduction of 500 to 600 Turk- 3 January 2016, it limited the definition of men from Tal Afar in 2014 and the massacres martyr to “those who were executed by the in Bashir village in Kirkuk by both the Baath Baath regime and lost their lives in the fight regime and ISIS, Turkmens did not receive against ISIS after 2014”, thereby largely pre- the necessary compensation. venting the Turkmens from seeking justice in the face of the injustice brought about by The chemical weapons attacks by ISIS in the massacres. Because of this definition, 2014 to the town of Taze Khurmatou , and the Turkmens, who lost their lives in the Kirkuk 86-day by ISIS, where mainly Massacre before the Baath regime, were not the Turkmens from the province of Salahud- given the status of martyr. On the other hand, din live, did not receive the due attention while the Anfal events were recognized as by international organizations. In order to genocide by the Iraqi High Criminal Court on reduce the impact of the atrocities suffered 3 May 2011, the government adopted a pas- by the Turkmens and to provide material sive attitude toward the massacres against and moral compensation to the families of the Turkmens, which shows that justice is the victims, bills similar to the draft law pre- not distributed equally in Iraq. However, Ar- pared by the parliament regarding the com- ticle 132 of the Constitution states that the pensation to the Yezidis who escaped from government is responsible for taking care of ISIS can be submitted to the Speaker of the the families of martyrs. Although the gov- Assembly by the Turkmen deputies.

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CONCLUSION tional community toward the events such as the Kirkuk massacre. Shared historical The Kirkuk massacre, which was the tragedies or incidents bind people togeth- greatest historical trauma for Iraqi Turkmens er. Hasan Turan, President of the Iraqi Turk- in the first year of the republic in Iraq, had men Front (ITF) decided on 28 March 2021 a significant impact on the future of- Turk that the portrait of the Turkmen leader Ata mens. Indeed, the dates between 14-16 Ju- Hayrullah, who was killed in the Kirkuk Mas- ly are commemorated as the sacre, should be hung on the walls of the ITF Martyrs’ Week. Turkmen groups, which can more easily come together and act jointly offices instead of the portrait of the ITF Pres- after 2003 compared to the past, can en- ident. Turan’s decision proves to be an im- gage in serious efforts to prevent terrible portant step in terms of demonstrating unity events such as the 14 July Kirkuk Massacre through embracing the common Turkmen from reoccurring. In fact, there are numer- values as the elections, which are critical for ous powers vying for the control of Turkmen the fate of Iraq, are approaching. regions. The incident shows that the pres- Since 2003, the representation of the ence of Turkmens in Iraq has been on the Turkmen people in both local and central crosshairs since 1959. That is because of the government has been gradually decreasing. strategic importance and natural wealth of It is important for the Turkmens to act in uni- the regions mostly inhabited by Turkmens. ty and integrity in order to acquire import- The powers that want to take advantage of the separation and weak organization ant and effective positions at the ministerial of the Turkmens can capture regions such level. In order to increase the representation as Kirkuk at a time when the Turkmens are of the Turkmens in the central and local gov- most vulnerable. For this reason, in terms of ernments and thus enable the Turkmens to their presence in Iraq, it is of vital importance obtain their necessary rights, the Turkmens for the Turkmen political parties to come to- should also participate in the democratiza- gether and strengthen their representation tion process of Iraq, even though there are in the government. For this, it is necessary to frauds and irregularities in the elections. go beyond personal and party interests. The Otherwise, there is a risk that the injustice Turkmen political parties need to sensibilize and unlawfulness faced by the Turkmens the Turkmen people and then the interna- throughout the will continue.

www.orsam.org.tr 13 About the Author

Adil Zineelabdin

Adil Zineelabdin was born in Kirkuk, Iraq in 1989. He completed his BA in Kirkuk University, Faculty of Law, 2012. Directly after graduation from bachelor he was admitted to get YTB’s Master scholarship in Gazi University in 2013. He graduated from Gazi University Faculty of Law 2017. After one year he start- ed his Ph.D. in Selcuk University in the Department of Public Law and still continue. During the study years Zineelabdin worked as an independent researcher in Iraqi affairs and published many articles and joined many conferences and TV shows. His current research interests focus on the topics of Iraqi Turkmen studies within ORSAM.

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Ankara - TURKEY ORSAM © 2021

Content of this publication is copyrighted to ORSAM. Except reasonable and partial quotation and use under the Act No. 5846, Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works, via proper citation, the content may not be used or re-published without prior permission by ORSAM. The views expressed in this publication reflect only the opinions of its authors and do not represent the institutional opinion of ORSAM.

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