KERKUK CITADEL IS NOT A SYMBOL OF KURDISH HISTORY!

Addressed to the journalists who diffuse Kurdish propaganda:
KERKUK IS A TURKMEN CITY it has never been Kurdish!

THE ANCIENT CITADEL "KERKÜK KALASI" IN KERKÜK IS NOT "A SYMBOL OF KURDISH HISTORY" !

The BBC publishes KERKUK PHOTO ALBUM on its website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6643791.stm

The above photograph of Kerkuk castle has the following caption:

“Peshrew says Saddam Hussein's forces used Kirkuk Castle, a symbol of Kurdish history, as a military base from which they controlled the area.”

(Note: Peshrew Shwani is a Kurdish journalist who took the picture)

This is completely false, the Kerkuk Citadel is NOT and has NEVER been 'a symbol of Kurdish history'!

Once more the Kurds are trying to confiscate one of the Turkmens’ historical sites and pretend it belongs to Kurdish history.

I recommend to those who wish to find the truth about KERKUK’s history and about the CITADEL OF KERKUK to read Dr. Suphi Saatçi’s well documented and beautifully illustrated book :
The Urban Fabric and Traditional Houses of KIRKUK
Dr. Suphi Saatçi, is Professor of Architecture
English copy First edition: January 2007 ISBN 975-6849-19-3
200 Pages
Kerkük Vakfi Istanbul 2007

Preface (excerpt)

Throughout history the city has been Turkoman, yet recent political debates have attempted to mask this fact and blur its ethnic and cultural identity. Kerkuk, as such, is a contested and troubled city.It is obvious that such political distortions cannot be successful for long.Likewise, it should not be forgotten that unjust approaches to such problems only bring resentment, and are not sustainable in the long run.

Before attempting to comment on the ethnic and cultural make up of a city, its architectural fabric must be studied. The way local culture and social life are reflected on the city’s architecture, the traditions prevalent in the area and primary sources such as the biographies of master masons, building inscriptions and local architectural terminology, are of utmost importance in this regard.

It is the goal of this book to demonstrate the utility of such sources in gaining insight into a particular locale or city.With the publication of this book in English, I believe the Western world will have the opportunity to get to know Kirkuk closely. While this book, no doubt, should have been published earlier, even this tardy debut will serve a noble purpose.
Suphi Saatçi, Istanbul August 2006


Extract (Page 43) Dr. Suphi Saatçi writes:
‘ The most noteworthy aspect of Kirkuk’s Citadel, the urban fabric of which is lost almost completely, is that it housed the most significant examples of traditional residential architecture in the city. Most of the 800 houses located here were important examples of traditional Turkmen residential architecture (Figure 42) Only forty-five of them survive to this day, particularly as a result of recent assaults. Five or six of them were repaired, but their wooden doors and windows have been plundered since April 19, 2003 when Peshmergas entered the city”