Bir Ocak Turkmen Cultural Association – Chicago
( Not For Profit Organization )
Bir Ocak Türkmen Kültür Derneği – Şikago
( Kâr Amacı Gütmeyen Bir Kurumdur )

6334 N. Kedzie Avenue
Chicago , IL. 60659
Tel : (773) 764 3479
e-mail : birocakyilmaz@yahoo.com


Nov.12, 2008

Dear President-elect Barack Obama,

On behalf of the Iraqi Turkmen community in the United States, we would like to congratulate you on your election as the 44th President of the United States. In these troubling times, we understand that your presidency will undoubtedly face tough policy decisions at home and abroad – especially in Iraq.

Since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Turkmens (the third largest ethnic group in Iraq) have struggled to have their voices heard in the formation of the new Iraqi government. While the mainstream public has come to recognize Iraq as a nation comprised of only Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds, ethnic minorities of Iraq have become invisible in the eyes of U.S and Iraqi policymakers.

Thus, as the next President of the United States, we hope that you and your newly formed administration makes a conscious effort to include Iraqi Turkmens in any rhetoric regarding the future of Iraq and consider our people as an integral piece to a complex puzzle. We look forward to communicating regularly with you regarding matters pertaining to Iraqi Turkmens. Again, we send you our sincerest congratulations.

Thank you,

Ahmad Yilmaz
M.A – International Relations, University of Chicago
Member, Bir Ocak Turkmen Cultural Association – Chicago

Kurdish Aggression Unjustifiable

In the midst of the Iraqi parliament’s approbation of the Local Elections Law, the city of Kirkuk became the venue for Kurdish political parties and its followers to protest and express their discontent for the law. Instead of holding peaceful demonstrations, the Kurds resorted to overtly violent measures as a means to get their message across to the Iraqi parliament. Unfortunately, these Kurdish “protesters” unjustifiably targeted numerous Turkmen facilities – namely, the headquarters of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, Turkmeneli Party, and the Political Prisoners & Martyr Turkmen Families Party. Echoing similar behaviour of any typical terrorist group, the assailants continued to sabotage and burn down these buildings, as well as intimidate and attack innocent civilians.

The Bir Ocak Turkmen Cultural Association deeply condemn these actions and call upon the United Nations and other leading human rights organizations to commence a serious investigation of these protests. Because the U.S and Iraqi forces was not able to monitor and prevent these so-called “demonstrators” from attacking facilities and terrorizing innocent civilians, we call upon you to suggest a political solution for Kirkuk. We are confident that if this critical matter is neglected, the citizens of the city of Kirkuk will resort to a bloody civil war. Thus, we implore that you take the initiative to interfere on this matter.

Ahmad Yilmaz
M.A, The University of Chicago
Member, Bir Ocak Turkmen Cultural Association, Chicago

29/07/2008