Turkmen protest against local administration continues in Kirkuk

The Turkmen protest in the Altunköprü sub-district of Iraq's Kirkuk province continues. Demonstrators, who began protesting after the newly appointed municipal director for Altunköprü was not from the local community and because Turkmen have been excluded from administrative positions for nearly two years, stated that they would continue their sit-in in tents until their demands are met. The protesters blocked the Kirkuk-Erbil highway to traffic once again today. Police intervened in the demonstration.

"TURKMEN LAUNCH PROTEST"

Zeki İbrahim, the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC) official for Altunköprü, stated in a press release that the Turkmen would continue their protests until their demands are met. İbrahim noted that the appointment of a new municipal director to the sub-district without consulting Turkmen representatives sparked the events, saying, "The Turkmen launched a protest because they do not accept this appointment. After blocking the Kirkuk-Erbil road, they entered the municipal building and took down the sign. Subsequently, our youth set up tents in front of the building and began a sit-in."

"ALL THREE KEY POSITIONS ARE IN THE HANDS OF THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN"

Emphasizing that the Turkmen are demanding a say in one of the three main offices in the sub-district, İbrahim said, "There are three key positions in Altunköprü: Municipal Director, Sub-district Director, and Police Chief. All of these are in the hands of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Furthermore, there are no Turkmen in any of the 12 municipal branches. We have conveyed that we are candidates for at least one of these positions."

"OUR RESISTANCE WILL CONTINUE"

Stating that a delegation from the Kirkuk Provincial Council was sent to the region on the third day of the protests, İbrahim noted that Turkmen Provincial Council member Ahmet Remzi had promised that, in line with their demands, the positions of Deputy Police Chief, Deputy Sub-district Director, and Deputy Municipal Director would be given to Turkmen. İbrahim stated, "We are not ending our action. Our resistance will continue until our demands are fully met."

News Source: İHA