Turkish becomes official language in Kerkuk, Iraq

In a move that has been welcomed by the Turkmen community, Turkish has become an official language in the Iraqi city of Kerkuk. Exterior signs of government agencies and institutions will now be in Turkish, alongside Arabic, Kurdish, and Syriac, TuraNews.kz reports.

The decision, which was made in 2008, came into force on September 18, 2023. It was implemented by a decree signed by the Governor of Kerkuk, Rakan al-Juburi.

The Turkmen community is one of the three main ethnic groups in Kerkuk, along with Arabs and Kurds. The city has a long history of ethnic and religious diversity, and the decision to recognize Turkish as an official language is seen as a step towards promoting greater equality and inclusion.

The move has also been welcomed by the Turkish government, which has long advocated for the rights of the Turkmen minority in Iraq.