On 7th September 2012, a series
of coordinated bombings targeting three Shiite mosques in Kirkuk killed at
least eight people and wounded thirty-six.
Our cousin Ali Djellil, a businessman (aged 40) and one of his sons Haider Ali Djellil (aged
12) were among the dead, they were blown to pieces when leaving the mosque
after Friday prayers. Our cousin is leaving a wife and five children, the
youngest is a six year old girl.
A bomb had been placed in a parked car near the mosque.
A second bomb exploded after the police and rescuers rushed
to the scene.
Both bombs killed a total of eight and wounded 36.
Three other bombs targeted two more Shiite mosques in the
centre of the city, injuring 34 people.
The Head of the Turkmen Front, Mr. Ershad Al-Salihi and ITF Turkey representative Dr Hicran Kazanci have strongly condemned these attacks in a press statement.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Al-Maliki continues to ignore the Turkmens’ repeated
demands to form protection units composed of Turkmens to protect Turkmen neighbourhoods, thus leaving the Turkmen
population unprotected and very vulnerable.
As Violence Increases in Kirkuk the Turkmens Are Targeted
Bilgay Duman, ORSAM Middle East Specialist
http://orsam.org.tr/en/showArticle.aspx?ID=1897
12 September 2012
Kirkuk, which has become a deadlock in Iraq, took a knock due to the acts of violence again. Within the last 4 days many people have been killed and injured, as Turkmen officials have directly been targeted and also due to the attacks carried out against places such as mosques, market places etc. with lots of people. The chain of attacks carried out against the Turkmen for a week had been launched with the assassination against Major General Adnan Abdurrezzak, an official of Turkmen origin at the Office of the Ministry of Interior in Kirkuk Governor's Office on September 4. Abdurrezzak, who went grocery shopping during evening hours, was assassinated in the market along with his two security guards. While the following day during noontime the Prosecutor Emel Ahmet Kayacı, official in the Court of Tuzhurmatu in Salahaddin, and his security guard were assassinated; during evening hours of the same day the home of Ali Haşim Muhtaroğlu, ITF (Iraqi Turkmen Front) Deputy Head and Salahaddin Provincial Council Member, was attacked. But it is reported that luckily everybody escaped unharmed from the attack.
Eight explosions hit Kirkuk on Friday September 7. While the fact that most of the explosions took place in husayniyya (Shiite mosque) and in mosques during the Friday prayer draws the attention, the fact that the explosions mostly take place in Tisin, Domis, Atlas Streets and in areas such as Musalla suggests that Turkmens have still been targeted. The fact that attacks are mostly carried out in Turkmen neighborhoods, that Turkmen officials are directly targeted brought up the issue of protection for the Turkmen to the agenda again. As the Turkmen officials urgently emphasize; especially in Kirkuk the lack of forces to protect Turkmens and insufficiency of the forces affiliated to the current government lead Turkmens to be damaged the most. Even if Turkmens are not directly targeted, Turkmens which are the least protected group in Kirkuk are damaged the most.
Eight explosions hit Kirkuk on Friday September 7. While the fact that most of the explosions took place in husayniyya (Shiite mosque) and in mosques during the Friday prayer draws the attention, the fact that the explosions mostly take place in Tisin, Domis, Atlas Streets and in areas such as Musalla suggests that Turkmens have still been targeted. The fact that attacks are mostly carried out in Turkmen neighborhoods, that Turkmen officials are directly targeted brought up the issue of protection for the Turkmen to the agenda again. As the Turkmen officials urgently emphasize; especially in Kirkuk the lack of forces to protect Turkmens and insufficiency of the forces affiliated to the current government lead Turkmens to be damaged the most. Even if Turkmens are not directly targeted, Turkmens which are the least protected group in Kirkuk are damaged the most.
As it is known, in Kirkuk, there are peshmerga and public order forces of Kurdish parties as well as police forces of the Iraqi central government. The aforesaid forces can easily protect the Kurdish neighborhoods. On the other hand, it is known that Sunni Arab tribes also have armed forces. As a matter of fact the majority of Sahwa, local forces created to fight against Al-Qaeda, is composed of Sunni Arabs. Currently, the needs (including their salaries) of Sahwa Forces are provided by the Iraqi central government. However, Turkmens do not have such forces. Besides, it is known that the number of Turkmens are less than the other groups within the security forces of the Iraqi government. Thus, problems take place in protecting Turkmens and Turkmen neighborhoods, and the places where acts of violence are witnessed the most are the Turkmen areas such as Tisin, Baghdad Road etc.
In addition to the fact that Turkmens do not have an armed force, it is also Turkmens who are damaged the most as a result of the conflict in Iraqi domestic politics regarding Kirkuk. Currently, there is a struggle between Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) and Iraqi central government to control Kirkuk. The Iraqi government led by Nouri Al-Maliki has been striving to increase its control over Kirkuk, and to this end, the government has been trying both to draw anti-Kurdish groups, including Sunni Arabs, to their side and also to increase its military power. For example, Maliki formed the Tigris Operations Command, directly affiliated to the Prime Ministry, in order to take security measures in Kirkuk as well as Diyala and Salahaddin. Despite the fact that Kurdish and Turkmen members in Kirkuk Provincial Council opposed to this, the Tigris Operations Command de facto took office. Kurds and Turkmens are concerned about the possibility that it would only be composed of Sunni Arabs. If the objective is to protect Kirkuk, Turkmens demand the formation of a “Kirkuk Force”, which would only be composed of people from Kirkuk and which would include all components living in Kirkuk. Nevertheless, it seems hard to accept this suggestion due to the political stance.
However, the real threat especially for Turkmens is considered to be the effort to create a sectarian conflict in Kirkuk. Because it is important to note that most of the explosions on September 7 targeted husayniyyas. If this situation increasingly continues, it might lead to a sectarian conflict in Kirkuk. The most damaged group would be Turkmens. Because almost all Arabs and Kurds in Kirkuk are Sunni. But there are both Shiites and Sunnis among the Turkmen in Kirkuk. In case a potential sectarian conflict takes place, Turkmens might become polarized (even if a low possibility). It is important to note that Turkmens are politically divided in Kirkuk. Shiite Turkmen parties formed a Turkmen coalition. Even though their goal is to form a Turkmen unity, the fact that this coalition only includes Shiite Turkmen parties might be considered as the major obstacle before creating this unity. Even during the most violent sectarian conflict in Iraq, sectarian problems did not take place among Turkmens in Kirkuk which is the stronghold of the Turkmen identity. Nevertheless, the consequences of such a situation to directly take place in Kirkuk might not be in favor of Turkmens. Therefore, it would be good for Turkmen institutions and organizations, Turkmen people and particularly for Turkmen politicians to be moderate. It can be assessed that there might be those who would want to prevent the rise of Turkmens in the Iraqi politics in the recent period. Turkmens are the balance factor in Kirkuk. There might be some groups that would like to create division among Turkmens. Because whenever Turkmens act in unison with any group, it is highly possible that the aforesaid group will become stronger. Disturbing this balance would bring grief not only to Turkmens but also to Kirkuk in general. And a major trouble to take place in Kirkuk would easily reflect badly on all across Iraq.
Below are some articles reporting the bomb attacks of 7 September 2012:
Iraq : Multiple Bombings Kill 8 at
Mosques in Kirkuk
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 7,
2012
·
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/story/2012-09-07/iraq/57690004/1
Maybe they are supporters of KRG which are using al-Qaeda or people close to al-Qaeda to put pressure or blackmailing the central government through violence.
Press TV: so you are saying that…, if I am correct to understand this, that since political parties are talking and since negotiations are taking place between political parties that maybe this escalation in violence which we have six blasts as a case in point that has targeted a mosque belonging to Shiite Muslims is to, maybe, have an effect on these negotiations or to throw it off its path?
al-Muttalibi: Yes, most likely. People are targeting…, I mean those criminals are targeting this particular sect in society for a political reason.
I mean we know hate has its limits but this coordinated attack and coordinated efforts in derailing any negotiations or at sometimes putting a political bill as for blackmailing one political party against another.
So the circumstances are, as I said, very suspicious and need a very, very thorough investigation into how the bombs got into this areas and basically who is behind the explosions?
Press TV: And you have stated this relation between the KRG and al-Qaeda, given that context what should the central government [of Iraq] do?
al-Muttalibi: Well, we do have…, I mean the central government has, at present, quite unresolved issues with the regional government of Kurdistan and the tension is quite high between the two entities.
There is an interference in the Syrian conflict; Kurdistan [region] is allowing certain violent elements to enter Syria from Kurdistan.
There are talks of camps in Kurdistan which we have no control of.
So there are unresolved issues and what can the central government do? The federal government is tied by the constitution and tied by the political map that we are governed by, through democracy and very much the government cannot deal with this directly; unless they can manage to rally behind the government, the different political blocs within the Iraqi parliament.
MY/MA
In addition to the fact that Turkmens do not have an armed force, it is also Turkmens who are damaged the most as a result of the conflict in Iraqi domestic politics regarding Kirkuk. Currently, there is a struggle between Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) and Iraqi central government to control Kirkuk. The Iraqi government led by Nouri Al-Maliki has been striving to increase its control over Kirkuk, and to this end, the government has been trying both to draw anti-Kurdish groups, including Sunni Arabs, to their side and also to increase its military power. For example, Maliki formed the Tigris Operations Command, directly affiliated to the Prime Ministry, in order to take security measures in Kirkuk as well as Diyala and Salahaddin. Despite the fact that Kurdish and Turkmen members in Kirkuk Provincial Council opposed to this, the Tigris Operations Command de facto took office. Kurds and Turkmens are concerned about the possibility that it would only be composed of Sunni Arabs. If the objective is to protect Kirkuk, Turkmens demand the formation of a “Kirkuk Force”, which would only be composed of people from Kirkuk and which would include all components living in Kirkuk. Nevertheless, it seems hard to accept this suggestion due to the political stance.
However, the real threat especially for Turkmens is considered to be the effort to create a sectarian conflict in Kirkuk. Because it is important to note that most of the explosions on September 7 targeted husayniyyas. If this situation increasingly continues, it might lead to a sectarian conflict in Kirkuk. The most damaged group would be Turkmens. Because almost all Arabs and Kurds in Kirkuk are Sunni. But there are both Shiites and Sunnis among the Turkmen in Kirkuk. In case a potential sectarian conflict takes place, Turkmens might become polarized (even if a low possibility). It is important to note that Turkmens are politically divided in Kirkuk. Shiite Turkmen parties formed a Turkmen coalition. Even though their goal is to form a Turkmen unity, the fact that this coalition only includes Shiite Turkmen parties might be considered as the major obstacle before creating this unity. Even during the most violent sectarian conflict in Iraq, sectarian problems did not take place among Turkmens in Kirkuk which is the stronghold of the Turkmen identity. Nevertheless, the consequences of such a situation to directly take place in Kirkuk might not be in favor of Turkmens. Therefore, it would be good for Turkmen institutions and organizations, Turkmen people and particularly for Turkmen politicians to be moderate. It can be assessed that there might be those who would want to prevent the rise of Turkmens in the Iraqi politics in the recent period. Turkmens are the balance factor in Kirkuk. There might be some groups that would like to create division among Turkmens. Because whenever Turkmens act in unison with any group, it is highly possible that the aforesaid group will become stronger. Disturbing this balance would bring grief not only to Turkmens but also to Kirkuk in general. And a major trouble to take place in Kirkuk would easily reflect badly on all across Iraq.
Below are some articles reporting the bomb attacks of 7 September 2012:
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 7,
2012
·
Three separate bomb attacks against
Shiite mosques in the northern city of Kirkuk Kirkuk Kirkuk
SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq (AP) –
Three separate bomb attacks against Shiite mosques in a volatile northern Iraqi
city killed eight civilians on Friday and injured 70 others, police said.
Citizens
and security forces inspect the scene of a car bomb attack in Kirkuk , Iraq
Enlarge
By Emad Matti, AP
Kirkuk police commander Brig. Gen. Sarhad Qadir said the blasts took place as worshipers were leaving mosques
Qadir said the deadliest attack occurred when a parked car bomb went off in Kirkuk's southern Domiz area.
A second bomb exploded after police and rescuers rushed to the scene. Both bombs killed a total of eight and wounded 36.
Three other bombs targeted two more mosques in the center of the city, causing 34 injuries but no fatalities.
.http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/story/2012-09-07/iraq/57690004/1
Eight killed in Kirkuk bomb attacks String of bomb attacks targeting Shiite places of worship kills at least eight people, wounds 33 others. Middle East Online   KIRKUK, Iraq - A series of apparently coordinated bombings targeting Shiite places of worship, or husseiniyahs, in north Iraq killed at least eight people and wounded 33 on Friday, a medical official said. A car bomb targeted the Khezal al-Tamimi husseiniyah in central Kirkuk at about 12:55 pm (0955 GMT), followed by a bombing at Imam Ali husseiniyah in the city's northeast, and three bombings at Al-Mustafa husseiniyah in south Kirkuk, security and medical officials said. Sadiq Omar Rasul, the head of Kirkuk health department, said that eight people were killed and 33 wounded in the attacks. An AFP correspondent saw the burned bodies of two children and dozens of burned-out cars at Al-Mustafa husseiniyah. Hadi Qanbar, who had been praying at Al-Mustafa husseiniyah, said that worshippers were told about the attack on Khezal al-Tamimi and began to leave. "But when we left, explosions happened one after another," he said. "We do not know why we were targeted." Azhar Kamal, who was also at Al-Mustafa husseiniyah, said: "We put the blood of the victims on the hands of the prime minister, and we ask him to protect the people of Kirkuk." Hassan Hussein, who was at Khezal al-Tamimi at the time of the attack, said the explosion happened behind the husseiniyah. "We saw our brothers and friends killed and wounded by this explosion," he said. http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=54251 | |
Politics driving Iraq Shia killings: Analyst
Video
More than 33 others were also wounded in apparently
coordinated bombings targeting Shia places of worship or Husseiniyahs in Kirkuk
on Friday.
Two children are reported to be among the dead.
Iraqi security officials say at least three Husseiniyahs, including Khezal al-Tamimi Husseiniyah which is the site of powerful Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's main office in Kirkuk, were attacked.
Press TV has conducted an interview with Saad al-Muttalibi from the State of Law Coalition from Baghdad to shed more light on the issue.
What follows is an approximate transcription of the interview.
Press TV: Saad a-Mutallibi what do you think is the reason behind these attacks today?
al-Muttalibi: In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful.
It is quite unusual; usually we have atrocities and violence when there is an escalation of violence or escalation of political unrest.
Now we are passing through a quiet political time where political parties are talking to each other and the negotiations are going on and usually with such an easy political environment, we do not have such an escalation of violence and in particular targeted at one sect of the society, i.e. in this case targeting the Shiite in Kirkuk.
This is quite suspicious, we cannot really understand the reason for such a violent escalation of violence targeting places of worship, targeting Shiits in a city that is known for its multiethnic…, multitude of different ethnicities and religions and beliefs and even nationalities.
Two children are reported to be among the dead.
Iraqi security officials say at least three Husseiniyahs, including Khezal al-Tamimi Husseiniyah which is the site of powerful Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's main office in Kirkuk, were attacked.
Press TV has conducted an interview with Saad al-Muttalibi from the State of Law Coalition from Baghdad to shed more light on the issue.
What follows is an approximate transcription of the interview.
Press TV: Saad a-Mutallibi what do you think is the reason behind these attacks today?
al-Muttalibi: In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful.
It is quite unusual; usually we have atrocities and violence when there is an escalation of violence or escalation of political unrest.
Now we are passing through a quiet political time where political parties are talking to each other and the negotiations are going on and usually with such an easy political environment, we do not have such an escalation of violence and in particular targeted at one sect of the society, i.e. in this case targeting the Shiite in Kirkuk.
This is quite suspicious, we cannot really understand the reason for such a violent escalation of violence targeting places of worship, targeting Shiits in a city that is known for its multiethnic…, multitude of different ethnicities and religions and beliefs and even nationalities.
Therefore it is
quite unknown that, the increase in violence, and I personally think that it
has something to do with the unrest between the KRG [Kurdistan Regional
Government] government and the central government here in Baghdad.
Maybe they are supporters of KRG which are using al-Qaeda or people close to al-Qaeda to put pressure or blackmailing the central government through violence.
Press TV: so you are saying that…, if I am correct to understand this, that since political parties are talking and since negotiations are taking place between political parties that maybe this escalation in violence which we have six blasts as a case in point that has targeted a mosque belonging to Shiite Muslims is to, maybe, have an effect on these negotiations or to throw it off its path?
al-Muttalibi: Yes, most likely. People are targeting…, I mean those criminals are targeting this particular sect in society for a political reason.
I mean we know hate has its limits but this coordinated attack and coordinated efforts in derailing any negotiations or at sometimes putting a political bill as for blackmailing one political party against another.
So the circumstances are, as I said, very suspicious and need a very, very thorough investigation into how the bombs got into this areas and basically who is behind the explosions?
Press TV: And you have stated this relation between the KRG and al-Qaeda, given that context what should the central government [of Iraq] do?
al-Muttalibi: Well, we do have…, I mean the central government has, at present, quite unresolved issues with the regional government of Kurdistan and the tension is quite high between the two entities.
The KRG or the
Kurdistan Regional Government is behaving outside of the constitution causing a
lot of problems, causing a great loss up to now we are thinking [estimating] in
the region of [about] 6.6 billion dollars in lost revenue, lost oil revenue.
There is an interference in the Syrian conflict; Kurdistan [region] is allowing certain violent elements to enter Syria from Kurdistan.
There are talks of camps in Kurdistan which we have no control of.
So there are unresolved issues and what can the central government do? The federal government is tied by the constitution and tied by the political map that we are governed by, through democracy and very much the government cannot deal with this directly; unless they can manage to rally behind the government, the different political blocs within the Iraqi parliament.
MY/MA
