Iraqi Turkmens

The Iraqi Turkmens, also called Iraqi Turks, are the third largest ethnic group in Iraq. They mainly live in northern Iraq, especially in the areas of Kirkuk and Nineveh. For Iraqi Turkmens, Kirkuk is very important and they consider it their capital.

These people have strong cultural connections to Turkey. They are also closely related to the Syrian Turkmen. It's important to know that Iraqi Turkmens are different from the traditionally-nomadic Turkmens who live in Central Asia. Their history and culture make them a unique part of Iraq's rich and diverse society.

Ethnonyms

According to Iraqi Turkmen scholar Professor Suphi Saatçi, before the mid-20th century, the Turkmens in Iraq were known as "Turks". After the military coup on 14 July 1958, the government started calling them "Turkman/Turkmen". This change was to separate them from Turks in Anatolia. It was similar to how the Greek government called Turks in their country the "Muslim minority".

The word "Turkmen" has been used for Oghuz Turks who followed Islam and moved from Central Asia to the Middle East. Iraqi Turkmens, along with Syrian Turkmens, do not see themselves as the same as the Turkmen people of Turkmenistan. In the Middle East, "Turkmen" often means people who speak a Turkic language, especially in areas with Sunni Turks.

Professor David Kushner notes that the term "Turks" is still used for Turks from places like Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria, and Iraq. This is because of their shared history, language, and culture with Turkey. These groups feel closer to Turkey than Turks in Iran, the Soviet Union, or China.

Iraqi Turkmens are also called Turkish-Iraqis, the Turkish minority in Iraq, and the Iraqi-Turkish minority.

In literature

Professor Orit Bashkin says that Iraqi Turkmen poets stay loyal to Iraq while keeping their Turkish identity. Mustafa Gökkaya (born 1910) saw his community as Muslim. He saw his father as Turk and Iraq as his motherland. Reşit Ali Dakuklu (born 1918) felt that being a Turk in Iraq meant having friendly ties with all nations. He also wanted to stay united with Iraq and speak Turkish. These poets wanted to serve their country and protect their culture and Turkish heritage.

History

Origin

Suleiman the Magnificent defeated the Safavids on 31 December 1534, gaining Baghdad and, later, southern Iraq. Throughout the Ottoman reign, the Ottomans encouraged Turkish migration along northern Iraq.

The history of Iraqi Turkmens is not fully known, but they likely came to Iraq over many years. Many believe they are descendants of people who moved into the area from the 7th century up until the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1919. These groups included soldiers, traders, and officials from places like Anatolia.

Migration under Arab rule

Turkic people first appeared in Iraq in the 7th century as part of Muslim armies. More settled in during the 8th century, but many later mixed with local Arabs.

A large influx of Turks continued to settle in Iraq once Murad IV recaptured Baghdad in 1638.

Seljuk migration

A larger group of Turkmens arrived with the Seljuk Empire in 1055. They settled in key areas of northern Iraq, such as Tal Afar, Erbil, Kirkuk, and Mandali.

Ottoman migration

The biggest wave of Turkmen settlement happened during the Ottoman rule from 1535 to 1919. The Ottomans encouraged people from Anatolia to move to northern Iraq. They helped build communities and support the Ottoman government.

The Misak-ı Millî ("national oath") sought to include the Mosul vilayet in the proposals for the new borders of a Turkish nation in 1920.

After capturing Baghdad in 1638, more Turks arrived, and the city of Kirkuk became an important center for them.

Post-Ottoman era

After the Ottoman Empire ended, Iraqi Turkmens hoped to join Turkey. However, they faced challenges under later governments in Iraq.

Culture

Iraqi Turkmens are mostly Muslim and share close cultural and language ties with Turkey.

Language

Iraqi Turkmen speak dialects that belong to the Western Oghuz branch of Turkic languages, often called "Iraqi Turkmen Turkish" or "Iraqi Turkish". These dialects have their own unique features but were influenced by Ottoman Turkish and nearby Azerbaijani Turkic. Standard Istanbul Turkish has greatly affected their dialects, making them different from nearby Irano-Turkic varieties. The written language uses the modern Turkish alphabet.

Turkish was recognized as a minority language in Kirkuk and Kifri in 1930. Later, the Iraqi government banned the Turkish language and schools using Turkish. It was not until 2005 that Turkmen dialects were recognized under the Iraqi constitution. Since then, many Turkish schools have opened, and media from Turkey has helped standardize their dialects towards Standard Turkish.

Bilingual sign (Arabic and Turkish) of a Turkmen village.

Education in Turkish

Iraq’s first two Turkmen schools opened in 1993, one in Erbil and the other in Kifri. In 2005, Iraqi Turkmen leaders decided that Turkish would replace traditional Turkmeni in schools. The Turkmen Directorate of Education in Kirkuk has started Turkish language lessons for families. The Turkmen Federation of Scouts was founded in 2010, based in Kirkuk.

Media in Turkish

Satellite television and media from Turkey have helped standardize Turkmeni towards Turkish. In 2004, Türkmeneli TV launched in Kirkuk, broadcasting in Turkish and Arabic. It has studios in Kirkuk, Baghdad, and Ankara, and shares programs with several Turkish channels.

Religion

Iraqi Turkmens are mostly Muslims. Sunni Turkmens make up the majority, but there is also a significant number of Shia Turkmens. Many Turkmens are secular.

Demographics

An Iraqi Turkmen in Kirkuk.

Iraqi Turkmens are one of the largest groups in Iraq. They mainly live in northern Iraq, in an area called "Turkmeneli." The city of Kirkuk is their main city. Iraqi Turkmens also live in Erbil, Mosul, and Baghdad. Some have moved to other countries, with communities in Turkey, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden.

Persecution

The Iraqi Turkmens have faced many challenges over the years. After the end of the Ottoman Empire, they became a smaller group that sometimes faced unfair treatment.

There have been sad events where many Iraqi Turkmens lost their lives. For example, in 1924 and again in 1959, fights broke out that led to many deaths. In 1991, during a big war, many more were sadly killed.

There have also been attempts to change the culture and identity of the Iraqi Turkmens. Some groups tried to move them away from their homes and replace them with others. This caused tension between different groups in the area.

Between 2003 and 2006, many Turkmens in one area faced difficult times because of fighting between different groups, leading to many people being hurt or losing their homes.

Main article: Iraqi Turkmen genocide

Main article: Expulsion of Iraqis in Kirkuk (2016)

Politics

In January 2005, some Turkmen people were elected to the National Assembly of Iraq. They were from groups like the United Iraqi Alliance, the Iraqi Turkmen Front, and the Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan.

In December 2005, more Turkmen people were elected to the Council of Representatives. They came from groups such as the Iraqi Turkmen Front, the United Iraqi Alliance, the Iraqi Accord Front, and the Kurdistani Alliance.

Iraqi Turkmens play a role in talks about northern Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The government of Turkey has supported groups like the Iraqi Turkmen Front. This group does not agree with some ideas about how Iraq should be governed. Even though things have gotten better, policies after 2003 have caused issues between different groups.