Iraqi Turkmens Protest Exclusion from Local Administration in Kirkuk
Turkmens in Altun Kupri, a district of Iraq’s Kirkuk province, have launched a protest over what they say is persistent exclusion from local administrative positions.
According to Anadolu Agency, Ahmed Remzi Kuprulu, a representative of the Iraqi Turkmen Front in the Kirkuk Regional Council, stated that Turkmen-populated areas, especially Altun Kupri, are facing systemic injustice.
The protest began with tents erected in front of the Altun Kupri Martyrs Monument. Kuprulu emphasized that this is not just about bureaucratic neglect but a long-standing denial of political rights.
Local Turkmens have for years demanded joint administration in their regions — a call that remains unfulfilled. Protesters highlight that key positions such as mayor, district governor, and police chief are not allocated to Turkmens.
Another demonstrator, Muhammad Kuprulu, pointed out that despite the district’s Turkish name, Turkmens are left without any administrative authority. “We are starting to feel like strangers in our own country,” he said.
Protesters are now calling for the establishment of a justice office in Altun Kupri.
