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Iraqi Turkmens

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

A person dressed in traditional Turkoman clothing in Altun Kupri, Iraq, in 2017.

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 began using the name "Turkman/Turkmen". This change was meant to set them apart from Turks in Anatolia, 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 Turkic-speaking people, 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, because of their shared history with Turkey, language, and culture. These groups are 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 also keeping their Turkish identity. For example, Mustafa Gökkaya (born 1910) saw his community as Muslim, with his father being 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, staying united with Iraq, and speaking Turkish. These poets wanted to serve their country but also 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, and the language is commonly called Turkman or turkmany.

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.

Some Iraqi Turkmens believe their language has influences from Sumerian, found in many village, city, and food names. By 2021, researchers discovered over 350 Turkmen words tracing back to Sumerian. There was also speculation that traditional Turkmen clothes resembled Sumerian styles.

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, similar to practices in Turkey since 1923. A small minority of Iraqi Turkmens are Catholics, estimated at around 30,000 in 2015. Historically, some Iraqi Turkmens followed Qizilbash doctrine and Bektashi Alevism, but most converted to orthodox Shia Islam by the 1920s.

Demographics

An Iraqi Turkmen in Kirkuk.

Iraqi Turkmens are the third largest ethnic group in Iraq. In 2013, it was estimated that about 3 million Iraqi Turkmens lived in Iraq, making up around 9% of the country's population at the time.

They mainly live in northern Iraq, in an area they call "Turkmeneli." The city of Kirkuk is considered their capital. Iraqi Turkmens have lived in cities such as Erbil, Mosul, and Baghdad for many years. Many have moved to other countries, with large communities now 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 minority group that faced unfair treatment. Under a certain government rule, their leaders were punished, and policies were put in place to change their culture and move them from their homes.

There have been sad and violent 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.

Iraqi Turkmen cemetery.

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, between ten and twelve Turkmen individuals were elected to the transitional National Assembly of Iraq. Some were part of the United Iraqi Alliance, others from the Iraqi Turkmen Front, and a few from the Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan.

In December 2005, between five and seven Turkmen candidates were elected to the Council of Representatives. This included members from different groups such as the Iraqi Turkmen Front, the United Iraqi Alliance, the Iraqi Accord Front, and the Kurdistani Alliance.

Iraqi Turkmens have become important in discussions about the future of northern Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The government of Turkey has supported groups like the Iraqi Turkmen Front, which does not agree with Iraqi federalism or the idea of Kirkuk joining the Kurdistan Regional Government. While tensions have lessened over time, policies after 2003 have caused problems between different groups.

Notable people

Gökböri
David Chokachi
Nemir Kirdar

Images

A monument in Altun Kopru displaying a map of Turkmeneli.
A young person proudly holding a Turkmeneli scarf, representing their cultural identity.
A woman from the Iraqi Turkmen community posing in Istanbul, showcasing her cultural heritage.
People peacefully protesting in Amsterdam holding flags and signs about Kirkuk.
A woman from the Iraqi Turkmen community holding a sign in Turkish.

Related articles

Iraq
Turkey
Anatolia
Baghdad
Greece
Islam

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Iraqi Turkmens, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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