Altin Kopru The Turkmen Ancient Township 2018 Mofak Salman Kerkuklu 1 Altin Kopru The Turkmen Ancient Township By Mofak Salman Kerkuklu ISBN: 978-0-9555489-8-7 2 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 7 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