Latest news with #AbdullahMirwais
Rudaw Net
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Ankara backs Turkmen in dispute over Kirkuk mayoralty
Also in Middle East Turkish intel chief discusses PKK with Kurdish leaders in Erbil Syrian government under fire for arresting Kurdish journalist Family of two Iraqis killed in Turkey demand justice Ministry confirms two Iraqis killed in Turkey A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey's Foreign Ministry on Friday expressed support for Turkmen in Kirkuk, saying they are understandably upset about the appointment of a Kurdish woman as mayor of Prde (Altun Kupri) sub-district. 'The appointment of a non-Turkmen director to the Altunkopru Municipality, where the Turkmen population is dense, has understandably caused unease and disappointment among the Turkmen community,' Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli wrote on X. 'It is our fundamental expectation that our Turkmen kin are duly represented within Iraq's political and state structures,' he added, noting that developments in Kirkuk are being 'closely and sensitively followed' by Ankara. The appointment of a Kurdish woman as municipal mayor of the disputed sub-district triggered days of protests this week by supporters of the Iraqi Turkmen Front. Turkmen members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi) and cadres from the Badr Organization were also seen at the protests, according to Rudaw reporters on the ground and footage of the demonstrations. Some protesters, reportedly armed, stormed the municipality building, smashing windows and doors before being dispersed by security forces. Others set fires and shut down traffic on the main highway connecting Erbil and Kirkuk. The road was closed for over an hour on Thursday before security forces reopened it. Protesters demanded that one of three key positions in the town - mayor, sub-district administrator, or police chief - be given to a Turkmen. The Turkmen community, particularly in Kirkuk, has long called for greater political representation in the province's government. Turkey, which sees the Turkmen population as its ethnic kin, has consistently advocated for their rights in Iraq. Kirkuk Provincial Council member Abdullah Mirwais told Rudaw on Thursday that the unrest is being politicized by certain factions ahead of federal elections, scheduled for November. 'Turkmens, Kurds, and Arabs as ethnicities have no problems with each other, but parties sometimes stir up these issues for their own gains,' he said. The Iraqi Turkmen Front is reportedly split on how to respond to recent appointments, following an internal rift between former leader Hassan Turan - who resigned in April - and Arshad al-Salihi, the party's current head in parliament and Turan's predecessor. The party remains a key political force in the disputed oil-rich province and has repeatedly claimed that Kirkuk 'belongs to the Turkmen people.'
Rudaw Net
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Erbil-Kirkuk road reopens after Turkmen protests over appointment of Kurdish official
Also in Iraq Makhmour camp residents warn of 'humanitarian catastrophe' amid blockade Iraq appoints new chief justice following judicial turmoil Sudani orders monitoring of water flow from Turkey Austrian ambassador praises President Barzani's role in Iraq ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The main Erbil-Kirkuk highway reopened on Thursday after supporters of the Iraqi Turkmen Front blocked it for over an hour in protest of recent administrative appointments in the disputed subdistrict of Prde (Altun Kupri) in Kirkuk province. The protest follows Monday's demonstration, when Turkmen Front supporters stormed the Prde municipality building in objection to the appointment of a Kurdish woman as the new municipal mayor. The demonstrators demanded that one of three key positions in the town - municipal mayor, subdistrict administrator, or police chief - be given to a Turkmen representative. Some protesters, reportedly armed, smashed windows and broke down doors before being dispersed by security forces. Others lit fires and briefly shut down the Erbil-Kirkuk highway. Protests resumed on Thursday, once again blocking the highway. Security forces reopened the road after about an hour. A committee was formed by the provincial council later that day to follow up on the protesters' demands. Prde's administrative posts remain a point of contention. The local mayor told Rudaw that Turkmens currently hold 12 out of 17 local positions but are now seeking one of the top roles. Kirkuk provincial council member Abdullah Mirwais told Rudaw that political factions are stoking unrest for electoral gain in the upcoming federal elections scheduled for November. 'At a time when elections are approaching, some politicians are getting involved in these affairs,' he said. 'Turkmen, Kurds, and Arabs as ethnicities have no problems with each other, but [political] parties sometimes stir up these issues for their own gains.' The Iraqi Turkmen Front has reportedly been divided over how to respond to recent appointments, amid a rift between its former leader Hassan Turan - who resigned in April - and Arshad al-Salihi, the party's parliamentary leader and Turan's predecessor. The party remains a key player in Kirkuk's politics and has repeatedly claimed that the city, disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, belongs to the Turkmen people. In addition to supporters of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, Turkmen members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) and cadres from the Badr Organization also joined the protest, according to Rudaw's reporter on the ground and accompanying footage.
Rudaw Net
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Three rockets target Kirkuk
Also in Iraq Iraq president appoints new Federal Supreme Court chief amid judicial turmoil Turkmen Front supporters block Erbil-Kirkuk highway over Kurdish appointment Kurdish, Iraqi forces kill 'three terrorist' in Kirkuk Erbil, Baghdad edge toward oil export deal despite oil volume dispute: Sources A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least three Katyusha rockets targeted the disputed northern city of Kirkuk and its airport late Monday, the governor said, injuring one person with investigations underway. Loud explosions were heard in Kirkuk at 11:30 pm on Monday as three rockets struck the city – two at the airbase in Kirkuk International Airport and one in a residential neighborhood. 'We are waiting for the relevant authorities to carry out their work. [The attack] caused no casualties. Only material damage occurred to a house,' Kirkuk Governor Rebwar Taha told Rudaw at the incident site in the central al-Uruba neighborhood. He confirmed that the attack did not disrupt airport traffic and that all flights are operating normally. One rocket struck a residential house while the family was at home. Its owner told Rudaw that 'we were sitting at home when a loud sound was heard. Thank God, there was no loss of life.' In a late Tuesday statement, Kirkuk International Airport said that the rockets 'caused light injuries to one person and no damage occurred to the aircraft runways.' Abdullah Mirwais, a member of the Kirkuk Provincial Council, told Rudaw that the source of the rockets is so far unknown.
