Turkmen: Fighting for Freedom, National Independence, and Cultural Integrity in Occupied Iraq

In three previous articles, I focused on the Iraqi Turkmen vision and ideological – political struggle against the Pan-Arabist biases and state ideology diffused by the fake state ‘Iraq’ which is a merely technical entity set up by the colonial English in order to effectively detach, successfully subdue and permanently exploit the Mesopotamian province of the Ottoman Empire.

Victims of the fake anti-historical ideology of Pan-Arabism are all the different peoples of Mesopotamia, either Arabic speaking or not; particularly the Arabic speaking populations, either Shia or Sunni, have been engulfed in a disastrous misconception (that they are Arabs) which prevents any possibility of nation building because of the ensuing loss of their historical national identity and integrity (they are Aramaeans who got arabized only linguistically, but not ethnically, racially or culturally).

Pan-Arabism is not only a nationalist ideology, composed by the French and the English academia and projected on all the non Arabic nations of the Ottoman Empire; it is also a behavioural system of vulgarization geared to turn the affected populations to either masses assimilated within the Arab Bedouin behavioural system (cultural – behavioural arabization) or unauthentic and besotted elites pathetically acculturated within the Western behavioural system.

The ensuing unprecedented socio-cultural clash is essential for the later radicalization of the uneducated, culturally disintegrated, historically disfigured, and nationally confused masses that become an instrument of self-inflicted destruction.

In this regard, it is essential that the Iraqi Turkmen launched since the early days of the colonization numerous organizations that served as canvas of national authenticity, cultural continuity, and historical integrity. In the present article I present a list of Turkmen organizations, cultural and political, in an effort to highlight the vibrant passion of the Iraqi Turkmen for national integrity and independence. The list is not all-inclusive, but there is brief description of the activities of each of them; it consists in an excellent job of a political activist.

The Iraqi Turkmen Organisations
http://members.lycos.nl/Kerkuk/P_organization.html

The Iraqi Turkmen have considered all the types of organizations as an important factor in the development of the nations. The first Turkmen organization was founded in beginning of the 19th century. The non-democratic regimes, the continuous suppression of Turkmen presence in Iraq, the violation and inhuman assimilation policies which were applied on the Turkmen population in Iraq from the beginning of the last century, had been affected negatively the development of Turkmen organizations and the managing mentality.

For the above-mentioned reasons, it is very difficult to find or collect plenty information about these organizations. The strictly tailing of Iraqi regime after the opposition members and punishing their relatives in side Iraq led to suppress any declaration 0ver these organizations. For the same reasons, most of the opposition organizations survived for a short time or sustained limited activities.

The Turkmen Organizations could be divided in to two groups:

I. Confidentially Acting Organizations.

II. Openly Acting Organizations, which are divided into three groups:

A. Official organizations inside Iraq.

B. Organizations in the save haven above 32nd parallel in northern Iraq.

C. Organizations outside Iraq.

I. Confidentially Acting Organizations.

1. The Liberation Commission of Iraqi Turks
"Irak Türkleri Kurtulu§ Komitesi"
Which was founded in Istanbul. The introduction of Iraqi Turkmen in Turkey and world was the main goal of this commission.

2. The Turkmen Confidential Liberation Army
"Türkmen Gizli Kurtulu§ Ordusu"
It was founded in late 1970s in Iraq. Its communiqués had been distributed in Iraq and Turkey. The Iraqi regime had aggressively fought this organization. After distribution of some communiqués, the Iraqi regime had started to persecute Turkmen people in Iraq.

3. Turkmen National Movement
"Türkmen Milli Harekati"
Which was instituted in 1980 and distributed many communiqués in Arabic and Turkmen. The main aims of this organization were:
a. To fight for the national rights of Turkmen in Iraq.
b. To fight the brutality of government.
c. To fight against the assimilation policies.
d. To introduce the case of Iraqi Turkmen in the international arena.

4. The Free Youth Club of Iraqi Turks
"Irak Türkleri Hürriyetçi Gençlik Ocagi"
They had published many bulletins and organized many seminars.

5. Iraqi Turkmen democratic National Organization
"Irak Milli Demokretik Türkmen Örgütü"
This organization distributed communiqués in February 1982 in Iraq and Turkey.

6. The Unity of Striver Student
"Mücadeleci Ögrenci Birligi"

As a result of the racist and oppressive policies of the present Iraqi regime the Turkmen intellectuals, teachers, students, businessmen and workers founded tens of confidential political organisations. Almost all of them remain premature and cannot show important activities. The groups of Primary school teacher Rü§dü Muhtar Re§adoglu Rü§dü Muhtar Re§adoglu and Secondary School teacher Mehmet Korkmaz were from the active organisations. The activists of these two organisations were formed from teachers, university or secondary school students. The uncovering of these two organisations by the Iraqi regime sentenced more than 20 members to the death and more than 50 members to the prison from 7 to lifelong.

II. Openly Acting Organizations

A. Official organizations inside Iraq

1. The National Defense Association
"Mudafa’ai Milliye Cemiyeti"
This association had been founded in 1908. It was a political and national organization. Stimulation of the people to fight against occupation of Iraq by English army was one of the important aims of this organization. The National Defense Association writers were publishing articles in newspaper "Kewkeb El-Maarif".

2. Artistic theatre team
"Sanatsal Tiyatro Takimi"
The international actor and director Ismet Hürmüzlü with Enver Mehmaet Ramazan, Ahmet Halil and Aydin Sakir El-Iraki had founded for the first time in Iraq such an organization in 1950s. They presented the theatre "El-Fennan" in English. The theatres which they presented under the direction of Hürmüzlü in Turkmen were "Baygu§", "Yeni Ömur" and "Ya ay i§iginda ya da Karanlikta". Under the suppression of the political situation, which led to the Kerkuk, massacre at 14 July 1959, the same personnel can only presented two other theatres; "Hasan Efendi" and Bitmiyen Masal". With the sharpening of the nationalistic conflicts in Iraq, the increase of pressure over the Turkmen and departure of Hürmüzlü to study in Turkey decreased the activities of this organisation.

3. The Turkmen Brotherhood Club
"Türkmen Karda§lik Ocagi"
The Turkmen intellectuals in Baghdad had instituted this organization in 1960. It is almost the only official Iraqi Turkmen national origination in Iraq. The Mosul branch in 1971 and the Erbil branch in 1975 were established. The Karda§lik periodical, which is almost only publication of Iraqi Turkmen, is produced by this organization in the following fields: literature, culture, social, sport and folklore. At 1977, the present regime had infested these organizations. In 1980, the following organizers were martyrized: Retired Colonel Abdulla Abdurrahman, Associated professor dr. Necdet Kocak and the businessman Adil Sherf, while Dr Riza demirci has been disappeared. Each branch of the Turkmen Brotherhood Club had theater, music and national dance teams. These clubs were organizing social activities for the thousands of Turkmen students in the universities of Baghdad, Mosul and Erbil. The introduction concerts were aiming to introduce the first year Turkmen students in different faculties with each other and with the students of higher classes. The qualification concerts were organized for the last year university students. More than thousand students were attending the spring picnics, which were organized by this clubs. These activities were the only relatively large occasions in which the Iraqi Turkmen could present their national dances, music’s, theater and other national folklore. These clubs had student dormitories in which the poor university students were living without payment.

4. Turkmen Teachers Union
"Türkmen Ögretmenler Sendikesi"
This institution can be considered another evidence to the organized mentality of the Iraqi Turkmen. The union and the congress, which the union arranged in 28 August 1968, was the only independent teachers union in the history of Iraq. The Minster of Education had attended the congress and in his speech congratulated the organizers for setting up the first independent teachers union. Turkmen teachers from kerkuk, Erbil, Telafer, Altunköpri, Tuzhurmati, Hanekin, Kizrebat and Bedre had participated in this congress. The known Turkmen poets Reshid Akif Hürmüzlü, Izzettin Abdi Beyatli and Mehemed Sadik had recited poems. The head was Mr. Hakki Hürmüzlü.

5. The Revolution Sport Club
"Nadi Al-Thewre"
Turkmen politician I. Kocava and his friends founded this organization in the early 1960s. The Revolution Sport Club started as a sport club and mainly football, basketball and volleyball. Later, the departments of national dance, theater and music were developed. It reached to its highest activities in the early 1970s. Many international theatres were presented, such as "The Dictation" for Iranian writer Gulami. The martyr Rü§dü Muhtar Re§ad and his friends were from the active actors in these theatres. The National dance group was presented many dance sessions in the half hour Turkmen program in Kerkuk TV. By the time, with the intensification of assimilation policies the activities of this club are restricted.

6. The Red Crescent
"Kizilay"
Until the middle of 1970s, The Red Crescent building was the only place, which could the Turkmen singers, present concerts. These concerts were from the rare occasions in which the Iraqi Turkmen could live their national and cultural activities. The Red Crescent building was one of the scanty areas, which the people could attend attend at national festivals.

7. The National Team
"Milli Takimi"
After the Turkmen got their national rights in 1970, which was withdrawn after two years, a wide extent of cultural activities started. The national team was founded in 1970 as a cultural organization, which included most of the members of "artistic theatre Team" such as Enver Mehmaet Ramazan, Salah Nevres, Aydin Sakir El-Iraki, Abdulla Coma, Mehmet Kasim, Abdurrezzak Hürmüzlü, Mehmet Ku§cioglu and and Huseyin Demirci. This team presented many theatres and TV representations, which were mainly written by the Turkmen poet and writer Salah Nevres: Tembel Abbas, Bazar Agasi, Yarasa, El_Ustad Tarazan, çar§i, Hakimler Sag olsun and Yolcular. The theatres of other writers were: Bitmeyen Gece for Kahtan El-Hürmüzlü, Bayram Aksami and Merdivan for Wecdi Gedik. The last two theatres were directed by Mehmet Kasim and Abdurrahman E- Hürmüzlü, respectively. The National Team also presented activities in the field of music. The music group of the national team was formed from the well-known musicians, such as Celal El-Wendi, and singers of Turkmen. The importance was given to the teaching of the youth, which led to the appearance of many Turkmen singers such as Ya§ar Mustafa kemal, yilmaz erol, Necdet Kifirli and Fethulla Altun Ses. By the perfect theatres and songs could the national team gain the affinity of people in very short time. The well-known representation Tembel Abbas, which the head actor Huseyin Ali Demirci had been martyrized in 1971, will remain in the remembrance of Iraqi Turkmen for many decades. The songs "Emmoglu and Endim havuz ba§ina" remained popular for many years.

8. Great Voices
"Yuce Sesler"
This cultural organisation was founded by the Turkmen poet Ismail Sert Turkmen in the early 1970s. It was mainly a musical organisation. The famous Turkmen singers, such as Abdul-Wahid Kuzeci, Sami Celali and Ali Kalali were from the founders of this organisation. Yuce Sesler presented many concerts in the few years of its survival during which the suppression of the Turkmen culture by the Iraqi regime was unresistable.

9. Baba Gurgur Team
"Baba Gurgur Takimi"
Baba Gurgur team was also from the cultural organisations of the period, which presented many theatres. Tasin Saban directed both El-Kitar and Kas El-Gayara, which were written by Nusret Merdan and Tasin Saban, respectively. Hasim Zeynel directed both the Tabib El-Mecanin and Insudet El-Lethin Yasakun El-Hisan, which were written by Yavuz El- Hürmüzlü and Nusret Merdan, respectively. As a part of assimilation policies, this organisation was also stopped after few years.

10. Citadel Team for Representation
"Kale Temsil Takimi"
This Turkmen team was founded in 1992. Mecalan was the first theatre presented by this team, which was written by Salah Nevres and directed by Nihayet Celali. The subject of the theatre was about a Turkmen singer in the 19th century who had been accused of a murder and hanged at the citadel. The theatre Eyyam El-Abus followed the first one for Celal Polat and director Yavuz Faik. The third theatre of the team called Eyko for Nusret Merdan and director Ahmet Ku§cioglu had been met a lot of difficulties because of the topics which it treated. Therefore, it was presented for only 10 days. It’s staging was in Telafer and Duz Hurmati was hampered. The presentation was prevented in Mosul, in spite of the determination of the date and sell of the tickets. The Kerkuk TV filmed the theatre but not put on the screen.

B. Organizations in the save haven above 32nd parallel in northern Iraq

1. Iraqi National Turkmen Party
"Irak Milli Türkmen Partisi"
After 1990 and with the formation of the relatively peaceful area in the north of Iraq, above the 32nd parallel, started the confidential largest political organization of Iraqi Turkmen "Iraqi Turkmen National Party" to function openly. The Turkmen intellectuals inside and outside Iraq had founded this party in 11 November 1988.

2. Turkmen Democratic People Organization
"Ulusal Dimokrat Türkmen Orgütü"
In 1979, the known Turkmen politician I. Kocava founded this organization in Syria. The other active members were Dr F. Demirci, H. Suleyman, E. Izzeddin, A. A. Kasap and M. Reshid, who missed after he was captured by the Iraqi troops during the invasion of Erbil city in the save haven 1996. Dr M. Ketene was representing the organization in Libiya and Dr A. Beyatli in Ankara. The organization was dissolved after disagreements with the Syrian authorities and Iraqi opposition.

3. Democretic Turkmen People Movement
"Demokretik Turkmen Ulusal Harekati"
Staff Colonel Lawyer A. Samanci founded this organization at 20 January 1993 in London under the title "Turkmen National Movement". At 9 March 1994, the organization was re-titled as "Democratic Turkmen People Movement". The goal of this organization is to introduce the Iraqi Turkmen reality to the international community and to struggle for the there Human rights. It is co-operating with the Iraqi opposition in exile.

4. Party of the Unity and Brotherhood
"Birlik ve Karda§lik Partisi"
This party was founded in 1992 in Suleymaniye. Later on, the head center was removed to Erbil. The members formed mainly from the Turkmen who were fighting with the Kurdish forces.

5. Turkmen Union Party
"Turkmen Birlik Partisi"
A. Gunes whose background remained unknown to the Turkmen declared the establishment of this party in early 90s in the Northern Cyprus Turkish Republic. Later on, Turkmen Union Party was united with the Party of the Unity and Brotherhood under the first title. After few years, Gunes had been expulsed and replaced by R. Sarikahya. In 1996 and during the second congress, the name of party was changed to Turkmeneli Party "Türkmeneli Partisi", which is considered now the second active Turkmen party.

6. Iraqi Turkmen Union Party
"Irak Turkmen Birlik Partisi"
S. Demirci with few other members of dissolved Turkmen Union Party had founded Iraqi Turkmen Union Party.

7. Turkmen Brotherhood Party
"Turkmen Karda§lik Partisi"
W. Sherike formed this organization with few other fellows who were separated from Party of the Unity and Brotherhood.

The above-mentioned parties had centres in the main cities of northern Iraq such as Erbil, Duhuk and Zaho.

8. The Turkmen Brotherhood Club
"Türkmen Karda§lik Ocagi"
After The Gulf war in 1990 and with the development of safe haven above 32nd parallel in the northern Iraq, remained Erbil City out of Baghdad control. The Erbil branch of Turkmen Brotherhood Club had been released from the suppression of Iraqi regime. This club started to act independently and with new statutes. It is now considered one of the important national organization of Iraqi Turkmen.

9. Iraqi Turkmen Front
"Irak Türkmen Cephasi"
With the above-mentioned parties, few other Turkmen organizations appeared in the north of Iraq like "Turkmen Independent Movement" in 1995, "Islamic union of Iraqi Turkmen", which believes in pluralistic political system to absorb all components of Iraqi people, "Turkmeneli Co-operation and Cultural Foundation" in 1996. In an attempt to minimize the unfruitful strive between these organizations and to direct collectively all the potentials for the main national aims, fighting the assimilation policies and striving for the rights of Turkmen in a democratic Iraq, the negotiations started between the leaders and Turkmen intellectuals in 1994. In 1995, the organizations could be gathered under mother structure called Iraqi Turkmen Front.

The organizations of Iraqi Turkmen front
"Irak Türkmen Cephesi Orgütleri"

a. Iraqi National Turkmen Party "Irak Milli Türkmen Partisi"

b. Turkmeneli Party "Türkmeneli Partisi"

c. Iraqi Turks cultural and Solidarity Association "Irak Türkleri Kültür ve Yardimla$ma Dernegi"

d. The Turkmen Brotherhood Club "Türkmen Karda§lik Ocagi"

e. Turkmen Independent Movement "Türkmen Bagimsizlar Harekati"

f. Turkmeneli Co-operation and Cultural Foundation "Türkmeneli i§ birligi ve kültür Vakfi"

The offices of Iraqi Turkmen Front

a. London office in Great Britain

b. Berlin office in Germany

c. Washington office in United States of America

d. Ankara office in Turkey

The institutions of Iraqi Turkmen Front

a. Foreign Relations and Political Affair Department

b. Information Department

Turkmeneli newspaper is published weekly in Turkmen and Arabic.

The Turkmen TV channel is broadcasting in Turkmen 14 hours daily.

The Turkmen Radio is broadcasting in Turkmen 18 hours daily.

c. Education Department.

There are 5 preliminary 11 primary schools and 5 secondary schools under the administration of this department. The number of students is about 3000. The teaching is totally in Turkmen language with the Latin Alphabets.

d. Security Department.

e. Health and Social Welfare Organizations Department.

The Union of Iraqi Turkmen Youth "Irak Türkmenleri gençler birligi"

C. Organizations Outside Iraq

1. Iraqi Turks cultural and Solidarity Association
"Irak Türkleri Kültür ve Yardimla§ma Dernegi"
The Iraqi Turkmen intellectuals institute this organization in 1959 in Turkey. The head center is in Istanbul. It has many branches in the other cities as Ankara, Ìzmir and Konya. It is one of the active organizations of Iraqi Turkmen, which achieved activities in many fields. This association has worked hardly for Turkmen student in the universities of Turkey until 1980s when the Iraqi regime had started to prevent the Turkmen students to study high educations in Turkey. From 1980 it is working for the hundreds thousands Turkmen refuges in Turkey. As a safety caution we are going not to mention more about the activities of this organization. One of the important organizers of this association was disappeared during the visit to Kerkuk, Iraq. The Kerkuk periodical is one the publications of this organization.

2. Kerkük Foundation
"Kerkuk Vakfi"
A group of Turkmen intellectuals instituted this foundation in 1997. The goals of this organization are protection of Turkmen existence against the intensive assimilation policies and inhuman violations, which they are facing during the last decades. The founders are aiming to constitute research centers for Turkmen culture, literary, language and history. From 1999 Kerkuk foundation started to publish the Karda§lik periodical in Istanbul, which formed from 100 pages.

3. Turkmen Organization in Europe, America and Australia

a. Copenhagen Turkmen Cultural Association - Denmark

b. Arhus Turkmen Cultural Association - Denmark

c. Malmo Turkmen Cultural Association - Sweden

d. Stockholm Turkmen Cultural Association - Sweden

e. Fskelestone Turkmen Cultural Association - Sweden

f. Goteborg Turkmen Cultural Association – Sweden

g. Vasteras Turkmen Cultural Association - sweden

h. Scandinavia Turkmen Human rights association - Malmo – Sweden

i. Research Foundation Iraqi Turkmen Culture - The Netherlands

j. Amsterdam Turkmen Cultural Association – The Netherlands

k. Mönchengladbach Turkmen Association - Germany published "The Album of Iraqi Turkmen Martyrs" in 1993.

l. Berlin Turkmen Human rights association - Germany

m. Krefeld Turkmen Cultural Association - Germany

n. Berlin Turkmen Cultural Association - Germany

o. Berlin Turkmen Human rights association – Germany

p. Federation of Iraqi Turkmen Associations – Krefeld – Germany

q. Sydney Turkmen Cultural Association – Australia

r. Montreal Turkmen Cultural Association – Canada

s. Ontario Iraqi Turkish Cultural Association – Ottawa – Canada

t. Ontario Iraqi Turks cultural and Solidarity Association – Canada

u. Canadian Turkmen Cultural Association – Vancouver – British Columbia

v. American Turkmen Cultural Association – Seattle - Washington

w. Bir Ocak Chicago Turkmen Cultural Association – United States of America

y. Canada Turkmen Center - Ottawa - Canada

x. Iraqi Turkmen Organization
Departments
i. United States of America
ii. Finland
iii. Australia

In 10 December 2000, the following associations were united to establish a Federation under the title of Sweden Iraqi Turkmen Federation:

a. Malmo Turkmeneli Cultural center - Sweden

b. Stockholm Turkmen Cultural Association - Sweden

c. Goteborg Turkmen Cultural Association – Sweden

d. Vasteras Turkmen Cultural Association - sweden

e. Scandinavia Turkmen Human rights association - Malmo – Sweden

In spite of this amount of Turkmen organizations, the lack of experience attributes to the limitation of activities and inability to bring the Iraqi Turkmen case and reality into the international arena.

References

1. N. Demirci, "Kerkuk from the Past until Now"(Turkish), Dizgi Pres house, Istanbul 1990.

2. Z. Köpürlü, "Turkish presence in Iraq" (English), By Ornek Limited Company, Ankara 1996.

3. The Web site of Iraqi Turkmen Front.

4. "Karda§lik Periodicals" (Turkish, Arabic and English), Published by Kerkuk Foundation, Istanbul.

5. A. Samanci, "The Political History of Iraqi Turkmen" (Arabic), El-Saki Print House, First Edition, Beirut 1999.

Note
Picture: Turkmen protesting in Iraq against the colonial biases of Arabization and Kurdification