Iraqi Turkmen Front slams removal of Turkmen officials in Kirkuk

Iraqi Turkmen Front slams removal of Turkmen officials from key Kirkuk posts — Kahtan Vendavi, the leader of Iraqi Turkmen Front ITF (Irak Türkmen Cephesi ITC), Kirkuk, Iraq, February 2025. Photo: Vendavi’s fb

KIRKUK, northern Iraq,— The Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) (Irak Türkmen Cephesi ITC) has criticized the removal of Turkmens from key positions in Kirkuk’s local administration.

In a statement issued Thursday, Kahtan Vendavi, the head of the ITF’s Kirkuk Provincial Branch, condemned the treatment of Turkmens, stating that the distribution of administrative duties in the city has been unfair.

He explained that Turkmen officials who had served for years as deputy police chief and director of the Kirkuk Agriculture Directorate were dismissed due to political agreements in the city.

According to Vendavi, these positions were filled by individuals from other ethnic groups, rather than by Turkmens, and he strongly condemned the changes.

He emphasized that Kirkuk has faced a difficult political environment and called for the recognition of equal rights for all ethnic communities in the region when appointing individuals to local posts.

Vendavi called on Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani to intervene and end the alleged injustice, which he claimed has seen Turkmens removed from influential positions in Kirkuk.

He stated that the local administration in Kirkuk would only succeed if it included all ethnic groups in a shared governance approach.

The ITF leader further assured that his group would not remain silent on the issue and would pursue all legal avenues to address the matter.

Kirkuk, an oil-rich province in northern Iraq, lies within the “disputed areas,” a stretch of land claimed by both the Kurdistan Regional Government and Iraq’s central authorities. Its diverse population includes Kurds, Arabs, Christians, and Turkmens, making it a frequent focal point for ethnic and political tensions.

Earlier in February, tensions flared in Kirkuk when the Kurdish flag, used by Iraqi Kurds, was displayed inside the Kirkuk Governorate building during a visit by Qubad Talabani, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

The move sparked frustration among the Arab and Turkmen communities in Kirkuk, who viewed it as a provocative act in the multi-ethnic region. Meanwhile, Kurdish officials dismissed the concerns, stating that there was no issue with the flag’s presence during the visit.

The Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) is a political group that represents the Turkmen people in Iraq. It was formed on April 5, 1995, as a coalition of several Turkmen parties, aiming to ensure the community has a stronger voice in Iraq’s political life. The ITF seeks greater recognition, rights, and political involvement for the Turkmen population.

Since the fall of Saddam Hussein, the ITF has been actively involved in disputes over control of Kirkuk and other areas in northern Iraq, arguing that Kirkuk is a city belonging to the Turkmen people.

The ITF movement is also backed by Turkey.