COMMON ANALYSIS
Last updated: June 2022

COI summary

[Targeting 2022, 4.2.1, 4.2.2]

Turkmens are the third largest ethnic group in Iraq after Arabs and Kurds and the second largest group in the Kurdistan region. They comprise of both Sunni and Shia, and a small group of Christian Turkmens (see also 2.15.3 Christians).

The capture of the Ninewa Plains by ISIL in 2014 brought destruction of non-Sunni minorities, with Yazidis, Christians, and Turkmens being particularly affected. Many Shia Turkmens fled from their villages in Ninewa governorate to southern governorates, including Najaf and Karbala.

There were reports of abductions and killings of Shia Turkmens by ISIL, including women and children. It was estimated that 900 Shia and Sunni Turkmens remained missing at the end of 2020 out of the 1 300 who were abducted by ISIL from Tal Afar city, while 800 of those who were abducted were believed to have been killed. Only a small number of abducted Turkmens women reportedly returned to their community. It was also reported that the stigma around sexual violence could lead to honour killings. (See also 2.13 Individuals perceived to transgress moral codes)

After the Iraqi central government restored its control over Kirkuk governorate in October 2017, Turkmens were reported to have faced discrimination, displacement, and in some cases, violence from government forces, particularly Iran-aligned PMF groups. PMF were also reported to have conducted arbitrary and unlawful detainment of Kurds and Turkmens in Kirkuk, while incidents of violence were reported in Kirkuk and Khanaqin. Turkmens in Kirkuk seem to be more targeted than other groups inhabiting the city.

There are reports from 2020 of KRG authorities discriminating against Turkmens in the disputed territories, particularly in issues relating to land and property disputes.

Security forces were reportedly treating relatives of the Tal Afar inhabitants who had joined ISIL as ISIL-supporters. Particularly in Al-Ayadhiya sub-district, Turkmens (as well as Arabs) were reported to have expressed their concerns of being collectively blamed or accused of a crime; they also indicated higher levels of restriction on movement than other groups. See also 2.1 Persons (perceived to be) affiliated with ISIL.

Tensions between ethnoreligious communities in Ninewa and Kirkuk governorates were reported to have increased with the entrance of Shia Turkmens into PMF. Sources in 2021 noted that the PMF were targeting Sunni Arabs and Sunni Turkmens, seeking revenge for ISIL-committed incidents. PMF were reported to have committed violence against ethnoreligious minorities (including Turkmen IDPs) in the Ninewa Plains and Sinjar and were also engaged in illegal income-generating activities, such as collecting duties from petrol stations and truck drivers; illegal checkpoints were reportedly established in Daquq and Hawija.

Turkmen-led PMF were reported to be a dominant element in organisation of security in Tal Afar, and especially in its Zummar sub-district. In Kirkuk city, Shia Turkmens, most of whom are affiliated with the Badr Organisation, were reported to belong to the key military and political leadership of the PMF active in the city.

Given the fact that PKK and PMF have joined interests, some Turkmens, reportedly poor, unemployed young men and the majority of them being Shia, joined the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in 2020, aiming at the increase of PMF influence in the areas inhabited by Turkmens.

Risk analysis

The acts to which individuals under this profile could be exposed are of such severe nature that they would amount to persecution (e.g. killing, abduction, collective abuses). In other cases, individuals could be exposed to (solely) discriminatory measures, and the individual assessment of whether discrimination could amount to persecution should take into account the severity and/or repetitiveness of the acts or whether they occur as an accumulation of various measures.

Not all individuals under this profile would face the level of risk required to establish a well-founded fear of persecution. The individual assessment of whether there is a reasonable degree of likelihood for the applicant to face persecution should take into account risk-impacting circumstances, such as: area of origin (e.g. Shia Turkmens in areas where ISIL continues to operate), perceived affiliation with ISIL (especially for Sunni Turkmens), religion, gender, etc.

Nexus to a reason for persecution

Available information indicates that persecution of this profile is highly likely to be for reasons of race (ethnicity) and/or religion and in some cases, especially for Sunni Turkmens, (imputed) political opinion.

 
Exclusion considerations could be relevant to this sub-profile, in particular for Turkmens affiliated with the PKK, the PMF or ISIL (see the chapter 6. Exclusion).