Visit of President Fahri Korutürk to Kerkük

Fahri Korutürk, who was the president of Turkey at the time, had a formal visit to Iraq at the end of June in 1976.According to his programme, it was stated that he should go to Kerkük, the center of Turkish Culture, in Iraq. Turks made a great welcome ceremony for Korutürk, who visited Kerkük on 27th April. Because of welcome ceremony, Turkish leader saw a large crowd, felt a huge excitement and delight. All the guests felt the same emotions too. The people made a nice ovation for Turkish leader and the committee near him , who were met with applause frantically.Everybody, young-old, women-men, burst into tears. Delegates, in the committee, could not help crying. That day in Kerkük, the people were very excited. This wonderful welcome ceremony was enough to explain what the Turks expected from Turkey. Visit of Korutürk to Kerkük would have been terminated with research, he would get in Turkish Culture Centre; but Korutürk who was not content with obtaining information from authorities in Turkish Culture Centre, also conferred with the people and strove for calming them. After that visit, many people were taken under surveillance and arrested. The Government was greatly tense about the visit of Korutürk to Kerkük. The Baghdad Government began to prepare for a new plan in order to take the Turks under control against these ardent demonstrations. New arrangements especially including the regions of Turks were made for the separation of the country in 1976. Tikrit which was a district was changed into a city by name of Selahattin. Tuzhurmatu and Tavuk ,both of which were the important districts of Kerkük were linked to this city , it was farther though. Havice , close to Tikrit and inhabited by the Arabian, should have been the district of Kerkük. So according to the decision, Çamçamal was linked to Süleymaniye and Kifri was linked to Diyala.

With a bill made by Iraq Government, agricultural lands of Turks, situated in Kerkük, were nationalised for a mere song. As a result of claims made against these unfair practices , the authorities had promised that the bill would not have been put into practice. In spite of this , the bill was put into effect and lands of Turks were run. Despite all the objections made by Turks whose lands were attacked by Arabs, they said that they were free to complain to everyone they wanted as if they had been making fun of them. Applications and complaints related to matter made by Turks to the official stations could not be concluded. Turk villager’s lands , whose only living sources were agriculture, were detained especially in Tazehurmatı, Kerkük. These lands were given to Arabs settled there.

Baghdad Government detained social and cultural associations, unions and clubs, established by Turks, since 1977. Professional courses of teachers, doctors and engineers in Kerkük, management of unions and clubs were given to Arabs. Red Crescent Union, Savre Sports Club and all professional courses became Arabian. By the way, government put pressure on Turkmen Brotherhood Club, functioning in Baghdad, Musul and Erbil it began to threaten Board of Management Members ejected with free election every year. Government Supporters and Baas Party’s members could not detain. Brotherhood Club’s Management with election. So Turkmen Brotherhood Club’s Management was given to a Government Supporter group with a decision published by Ministry of the Interior. Brotherhood Club which was the most important association in cultural social terms, lost its importance after this. As a result, all the committees, clubs and unions in Baghdad were detained together with their possessions. All the precious books were destroyed.