Protesters block Kirkuk–Baghdad highway over Turkmen official’s removal

KIRKUK — Protesters in Taza subdistrict blocked both directions of the Kirkuk–Baghdad highway Monday night to denounce the removal of a Turkmen official from a senior post in the Kirkuk Directorate of Education.

The post, long held by Turkmen official Hashem Jawad, was reassigned to an Arab appointee. Demonstrators said the move undermined Turkmen representation in local government.

“​​This post in the Kirkuk education directorate has been a Turkmen share for many years, but today the general director of Kirkuk education decided to remove him and appoint someone from the Arab component in his place. We consider this our Turkmen right and we will not accept it,” protester Ahmed Yalmaz told 964media.

Kirkuk is home to Kurds, Turkmen, Arabs, and Christians, with power-sharing arrangements shaping its politics since the 2023 provincial elections. Under a deal between blocs, the governorship and council presidency rotate between Kurdish and Arab representatives, while Turkmen and Christians hold deputy positions.

Turkmen MP Gharib Askar, who represents Taza, called the highway blockade “not a good step,” but said the anger was justified. “The exclusion of Turkmen from government departments has pushed our people into the streets, and this is a message to all officials, the Iraqi government, the prime minister and the minister of education. We will continue until this is resolved,” he told 964media.

Protesters lit tires and caused long traffic delays before dispersing late in the night.

The unrest follows earlier protests in Altun Kupri in June, when demonstrators blocked the Erbil–Kirkuk highway after the provincial council replaced Kurdish Mayor Mohammed Najib with another Kurd. Protesters there, mainly from the Turkmen Front Party, demanded top local posts for Turkmen representatives.

Taza, a town of about 50,000 residents south of Kirkuk, is predominantly Shia Turkmen.