Baghdad/Iraqi Governing Council Iraqi Kurds Shiite Arabs Sunni Arabs

Turkomans

Est. Population: U.S. estimate: 800,000 to 1 million, less than 5% of Iraqi pop.; Turkoman estimate: 3 million, or about 12% of Iraqi pop.
Religion: Primarily Sunni Islam
Language: South Azeri Turkish
Geographic Area: Related to other Turkic peoples in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan
Major Political Groups: Iraqi Turkoman Front
Key Leaders: Songul Chapouk (Iraqi Governing Council), Faruq Abd al-Rahman (ITF)

Although they live in the northeast territory of Iraq that is associated with the Kurds and are primarily Sunni Muslims, Turkomans are a distinct ethnic group in Iraq with roots in tribal Turkey, and they have likewise faced ethnic discrimination throughout Iraq's history. The size of their population has been disputed; according to U.S. estimates, Turkomans comprise less than 5 percent of Iraq's population, but Turkoman leadership maintains that their population is about 3 million, or approximately 12 percent. [Editor's Note: The political information that follows was the situation as of February 2004.] This is a serious sticking point, as representation on the Iraqi Governing Council was determined by the U.S. population estimates. The Turkomans have one representative on the council, Songul Chapouk, a teacher and engineer from Kirkuk.

Chapouk's views do not always agree with the Iraqi Turkoman Front, a political party representing as much as 90 percent of the Turkoman community. Faruq Abd al-Rahman, the president of the party, has been an outspoken leader and has argued publicly, including through open letters to U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer published in local newspapers, that Turkomans are not fairly represented on the Governing Council.

Turkomans are locked in tense relations with the Kurds over areas populated by both groups. The agreement between the Kurds and the United States to maintain Kurdish autonomy in the northeastern region has led to clashes in Kirkuk between Turkomans and Kurds. Songul Chapouk has gone on the record in support of a "Turkmenistan" should Kurdistan be formally established. The dispute over control of Kirkuk could lead to violent conflict between the two groups. In the event, Turkomans might call upon Turkey for assistance, though the Front is against the intervention of Turkish troops on their behalf. Songul Chapouk, however, has supported the presence of Turkish troops as part of the international coalition assisting Iraq's transition.

Faruq Abd al-Rahman
As leader of the Iraqi Turkoman Front, al-Rahman tirelessly argues that his party should be represented on the Iraqi Governing Council. Although he is concerned about the Kurdish claim to Kirkuk and other cities, in which Turkomans also live, he is sternly against foreign intervention, including military intervention by Turkey. Al-Rahman instead believes the political process must give the Turkomans their say, including their preference for a federated Iraq of 18 provinces. He believes a multi-ethnic, cooperative Iraq with equal rights can solve its sectarian divisions.
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Songul Chapouk
A teacher and civil engineer, Chapouk is head of the Iraqi Women's Organization. She is one of three women on the Iraqi Governing Council. Chapouk is also a Sunni Muslim and has served as a voice on the Governing Council not only for Turkomans, but for women and Sunnis. The Iraqi Turkoman Front has been critical of her placement on the council because she comes from outside of the party and does not share its positions on important issues.
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