The Kirkuk-based Iraqi Turkmen Front ITF has expelled Yauz Hamid, who was unanimously elected as the first deputy governor of the Kirkuk provincial council at its October 14 meeting, for violating the party principles and instructiuons.
At a meeting boycotted by the ITF, the Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP and three members of the Arab coalition, Turkmen academic Hamid was elected first deputy governor, hours after a statement by the ITF rejected him as their candidate.
Yavuz Hamid was elected by nine council members, five of whom were from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan PUK, along with two members of the leadership coalition, one member of the Arab coalition and the last Christian coalition.
Raad Salih, a member of the Arab community and the leadership coalition in the Kirkuk provincial council, told KirkukNow that Yawz Hamid is the candidate of Ahmad Ramzi, a member of the provincial council from the Turkmen community.
Yavuz Hamid is the candidate of Ahmad Ramzi, a Turkmen provincial council member
Although Ramzi is considered member of the ITF, he is close to Arshad Salihi, former president of ITF and implements his programs. Salihi has a deep disagreement with Hassan Turan, the current ITF leader .
In addition to Ramzi, the ITF has another member of the Kirkuk provincial council, Sawsan Jadoua.
"Yavuz Hamid has violated the principles of the Turkmen Front and has not complied with the decision to boycott the Kirkuk local government and reject the post of first deputy governor," the ITF said in a statement.
Turkmen, the third largest ethnic group in Iraq after Arabs and Kurds, are spread across the country, residing almost exclusively in the northern towns and villages stretching from Tal Afar through Mosul, Erbil, the center of Kirkuk, and Altun Kopri district, Tuz Khurmatu of Salahaddin and Kifri and Khanaqin in Diyala. They are all Muslims, half Sunnis and half Shiites.
Though there are no official records about the Turkmen in Kirkuk, the Turkmen political parties say there are over 200,000 Turkmen voters in Kirkuk which has been divided into three constituencies for 12 seats in the October 10th, 2021 General Elections.
The northern, oil-rich, ethnically mixed province of Kirkuk is home to about 1,77 million Kurds, Turkmen, and Arabs. Located 238 kilometers north of Baghdad, it has long been at the center of disputes between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government KRG.
Youz Hamid, the first deputy governor during the swearing-in ceremony as the first deputy governor, Kirkuk, October 20, 2024. Deputy Governor's Media
Rebwar Taha, the governor of Kirkuk and a leader of the PUK, issued an administrative decree to appoint Yauz Hamid as the first deputy governor with the rank of director general, hours after the statement by the ITF.
The appointment of Hamid by the members of the PUK, the leadership coalition, the Arab and Christian coalition, which make up nine members out of 16 members, is part of the completion of the formation of the local government.
KirkukNow could not get Ahmad Ramzi's opinion on Yauz Hamid's candidacy, despite several phone calls.
On October 20, Hamid announced that he had been sworn in at the Kirkuk Court of Appeal, promising to close the “page of suffering” and strengthen “federal security” and justice between communities.
“The responsibility we have assumed is not only a rank and position, but a heavy and historic trust. I will start this path with you faithfully and work for everyone to serve Kirkuk and lay the foundations of coexistence," Yauz said.
"I have experienced the bitterness and pain like you, so I promise to be your voice and support at all stages," he added.
I have experienced the bitterness and pain as you have, so I promise to be your voice and support at all stages
The ITF, which represents the majority of Turkmens in Iraq according to votes and seats in parliament and elected councils, has boycotted the Kirkuk local government formed by the PUK and the two coalitions of the leadership, Arabs and Christians on August 10.
The Turkmen demanded that the governor's post be rotated among the three main ethnic communities for four years, but the PUK refused and the Kirkuk local government was formed between the PUK as a Kurdish party and the two Arab coalitions: Qiyada and Ourouba, supported by the only Christian quota seat in the council.
"The expulsion of Hamid was due to violation of the principles and views of the United Iraqi Turkmen Front list," the statement said on October 21 chaired by Hasan Turan.
"The decision to expel Hamid is within the framework of the Front's concern to protect the interests of the Turkmen people and not allow anything that threatens the unity of the Front and harm its struggle.”
*This story has been produced as part of the 'Budget is Your Right' initiative, with support from the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
