Iraqi Turkmen factions vie for control in Kirkuk
Turkmen, estimated at 2 to 3 million, are Iraq's third-largest ethnic group after Arabs and Kurds. While communities are spread across northern and central provinces—including Nineveh, Saladin, Diyala, and Baghdad—Kirkuk remains the focal point of their political struggle.
The oil-rich city, also contested by Kurds and Arabs, is regarded by many Turkmen as their cultural and historical capital.
This election cycle has deepened internal rifts. Mohammad Samaan Agha, head of the Unified Iraqi Turkmen Front, described his list as the 'sole legitimate Turkmen bloc' in Kirkuk, framing the vote as a test of unity. 'We are running with one list that truly represents the Turkmen community,' he told Shafaq News.
Meanwhile, a new rival list—Al-Munqithoun (The Saviors)—has emerged under politician Ammar Kahya, backed by factions within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).
Kahya described the alliance as an inclusive 'national project,' claiming it reflects the will of voters and those who defended Kirkuk. 'We formed this bloc because Turkmen lack real representation in local government,' he argued, emphasizing grassroots and federal support.
The rivalry has reignited debate over who legitimately speaks for the community. Supporters of the Turkmen Front cite its decades-long political presence, while others view Al-Munqithoun as a necessary response to shifting power dynamics and years of exclusion from provincial leadership.
In addition, Turkmen-majority towns like Tal Afar and Tuz Khurmatu have faced repeated attacks from extremist groups and militia clashes. Rights organizations report ongoing under-policing in key areas, and both campaigns have floated proposals for a dedicated Turkmen security force.
Despite political fragmentation, both blocs stress that Turkmen identity, language, and security must remain central to future governance. However, what remains uncertain is whether voters will opt for historical continuity—or strategic adaptation at the ballot box.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Lebanon: Disarming Palestinian refugee camps begins
Shafaq News – Beirut On Thursday, Lebanon launched the first phase of a plan to collect weapons from Palestinian refugee camps. The disarmament process, which comes in line with agreements reached between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on May 21, began in Burj al-Barajneh camp, located in Beirut's southern suburb, where the Lebanese Army received an initial batch of weapons from the Palestinian National Security Forces. Ramez Dimashqiyah, Head of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, noted that this marks the first step in a broader process, with additional handovers scheduled in the coming weeks at Burj al-Barajneh and other Palestinian camps across the country. The initiative also follows decisions made during the joint meeting of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee on May 23, chaired by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and attended by representatives from both Lebanese and Palestinian authorities, where the participants agreed on a clear implementation mechanism and a timeline to address the long-standing issue of weapons inside the camps. The arms in Palestinian refugee camps have long been one of Lebanon's most contentious security challenges. The step comes amid heightened internal tensions and mounting international pressure on Beirut to enforce a broader disarmament policy, including the controversial decision to strip Hezbollah of its weapons—a move the group has openly rejected, accusing the Lebanese government of serving US and Israeli agendas.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iraqi PM accused of poaching candidates for upcoming elections
Shafaq News – Saladin On Thursday, the Secretary-General of the National Masses Party (al-Jamaheer al-Wataniya), Ahmed al-Jubouri, known as Abu Mazen, accused Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani of drawing party candidates into his new bloc for 'personal" purposes. The Sunni Arab party wields influence in Saladin and Nineveh but has limited national reach, with its leader facing corruption allegations and past US sanctions. At a press conference in Tikrit, al-Jubouri dismissed the defectors as unrepresentative of Saladin, singling out only lawmaker Haitham al-Zuhwan as exempt. 'Their actions embody the province's decline." Al-Jubouri has already been barred from contesting the upcoming elections, set for November 11. Earlier this week, he nominated his son Mazen as his replacement, acknowledging that his own exclusion was based on Article 331 of the penal code, which parliament interprets as negligence and misconduct. He argued, however, that some lawmakers pushed the Integrity Commission to reframe it as corruption and a crime of dishonor. Conceding that he had 'lost hope' of running again, he vowed instead to remain in Iraq and disclose files on individuals and blocs 'by name' in the coming weeks.
Shafaq News
4 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Unmasking the Elite: Iraq's court rejects Diplomatic Passport Law
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq's legislative record since 2003 has been marked by a series of controversial laws that fuel political disputes, provoke constitutional challenges, and deepen public mistrust of governing institutions. The latest example is the diplomatic passport amendment, a law that stirred fierce debate over privilege, equality, and the rule of law. On August 20, Iraq's Federal Supreme Court struck down the law expanding access to diplomatic passports, declaring it unconstitutional in a decision widely viewed as a reaffirmation of judicial oversight over parliamentary privilege. The Foreign Ministry welcomed the ruling, crediting the efforts of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and his legal team. It described the judgment as essential to protecting a 'sovereign document that represents the identity and reputation of the state.' The annulled law, No. 6 of 2025, amended the 2015 Passport Law to grant diplomatic passports not only to senior officials but also to their spouses, dependents, and, in some cases, retired figures. Published earlier this year in the official gazette al-Waqa'i al-Iraqiya, the amendment effectively transformed the diplomatic passport into a permanent family entitlement. Parliament approved the amendment during the first session of its fifth electoral cycle, despite sharp criticism from citizens and legal experts who argued that Iraq faced far more pressing challenges. Critics described it as another example of the state prioritizing elite entitlements while economic instability, corruption, and human rights crises remain unresolved. Figures from the Interior Ministry show that between 4,000 and 4,200 diplomatic passports were issued in just one year, beginning in October 2021. In total, more than 35,000 diplomatic passports have been issued—an exceptionally high figure compared to larger states such as India or Japan, which issue fewer than 20,000. Legal and Constitutional Concerns Legal expert Ali al-Tamimi told Shafaq News that the Supreme Court's ruling rested on Articles 14, 15, 47, and 80 of the Constitution, which enshrine equality, separation of powers, and the proper scope of executive authority. He recalled that the Court had initially issued an injunction suspending implementation of the law, a step that signaled its unconstitutionality even before the final judgment. Al-Tamimi emphasized that under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1969 Vienna Convention on Special Missions, diplomatic passports are strictly tied to active diplomatic service. Once an assignment ends, the privilege must expire. Extending passports to family members and retirees, he said, was a 'serious error' that contravened international law and turned the passport into an inherited privilege rather than a state instrument. He added that Iraq is constitutionally bound under Article 8 to respect international treaties. Granting diplomatic passports to spouses and children, or retaining them after retirement, directly undermines these obligations. 'Immunity is linked to service, and it cannot be transferred as if it were part of a salary or inheritance.' According to al-Tamimi, had the amendment limited diplomatic passports to officials for the duration of their service — without extending them to family members — it might have aligned with both the Constitution and international norms. Instead, by expanding eligibility, 'Iraq diverged from global practice, where such documents are issued sparingly and often reserved for those who have made exceptional contributions to public life.'
