Iraq took a step back after Türkiye's reaction: Turkmen has been added to official languages

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The Iraqi government took a decision to restrict the Turkmen language in official correspondence in Kirkuk. The Turkmen, who live in the city heavily, reacted to the decision. Türkiye also called on the Iraqi authorities to quickly review this decision. After the reaction, the Iraqi government added 'Turkmen' to the official languages in Kirkuk.

Iraq took a step back after Türkiye's reaction: Turkmen has been added to official languages

The Iraqi government took a decision to restrict the Turkmen language in official correspondence in Kirkuk.

According to the letter sent from the Iraqi Prime Ministry General Secretariat to the Kirkuk Governorate, only Arabic and Kurdish will be used in official correspondence in the city.

The Turkmen, who live in the city heavily, reacted to the decision.

In the written statement made by the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC) Political Bureau, it was stated that the decision sent by the Iraqi government to the Kirkuk Governorate was rejected.

In the statement made to Prime Minister Mohammad Shiya es-Sudani, he demanded the annulment of the decision.

In the statement released by the Iraqi Parliament Turkmen Group, it was noted that the decision in which the Turkmen language was ignored in Kirkuk was unconstitutional and was not accepted.

The statement called on the Prime Minister to instruct the "Turkmen language to be used in official correspondence in Kirkuk".

THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ ADDED "TURKMEN" TO THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES IN KIRKUK

It has been reported that Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammed Şiya es-Sudani gave instructions to use Turkmen among the official correspondence languages in Kirkuk.

According to the Iraqi official news agency INA, Prime Minister Sudani ordered the use of Turkmen, the mother tongue of the Turkmen, in addition to Arabic and Kurdish in official correspondence in Kirkuk.

Iraqi Prime Ministry General Secretariat had sent a letter to Kirkuk Governorship to use only Arabic and Kurdish in official correspondence in Kirkuk.

This decision was reacted by the Turkmen who live in Kirkuk intensively.

The Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC) Political Bureau made a call to Prime Minister Muhammed Şiya es-Sudani and asked to cancel the decision.

In the statement released by the Iraqi Parliament Turkmen Group, it was noted that the decision to ignore the Turkmen language in Kirkuk was unconstitutional and was not accepted.

STATEMENT ON THE RESTRICTION ON THE OFFICIAL USE OF TURKMEN IN KIRKUK FROM TÜRKİYE

After Iraq imposed restrictions on the official use of Turkmen language in Kirkuk, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the Iraqi authorities to quickly review this decision.

In a written statement made by the Ministry, it was stated that with a decision taken by the General Secretariat of the Iraqi Council of Ministers, a restriction was imposed on the official use of Turkmen language in Kirkuk.

Emphasizing that this decision constitutes a violation of the fundamental rights of the Turkmen, one of the founding and essential elements of Iraq, the statement said, "It also clearly contradicts the provisions of the Iraqi Constitution. As a matter of fact, the fourth article of the Constitution stipulates that Turkmen is the official language in the administrative units where the Turkmen population is concentrated. Likewise, Article 125 of the Iraqi Constitution emphasizes that the Constitution guarantees the administrative and cultural rights of all components that make up Iraq."

Noting that such steps, which ignore the rights and sensitivities of the Turkmens, one of the main elements of Iraq and the Kirkuk Province, will harm efforts to establish a culture of peaceful coexistence in Kirkuk, the statement said, "We invite the Iraqi authorities to quickly review this decision. "

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