Turkmen in Tal Afar
Research Report
Turkmen in Tal Afar: Perceptions of Reconciliation and Conflict
Dave van Zoonen
Khogir Wirya
Copyright Date: Jul. 1, 2017
Published by: Middle East Research Institute
Pages: 32
OPEN ACCESS
https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep13634
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  1. Front Matter
    Front Matter (pp. [i]-1)
  2. Table of Contents
    Table of Contents (pp. 2-3)
  3. 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
    1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (pp. 4-4)
  4. 2. INTRODUCTION
    2. INTRODUCTION (pp. 5-6)

    The fall of Tal Afar to the Islamic State (IS) has severely damaged the already strained Sunni/Shia relations within the local Turkmen community, as well as inter-community relations with other ethno-religious communities. Approximately 60-70% of Turkmen in Tal Afar district is Sunni, with the remainder adhering to Shia Islam. In addition to its majority-Turkmen population, Tal Afar is also home to Sunni Arab and Kurdish communities. Its main urban centre, Tal Afar town, is home to a mix of Sunni and Shia Turkmen.

    Tal Afar was one of the first cities in Iraq to be affected by sectarian violence after...

  5. 3. FINDINGS
    3. FINDINGS (pp. 7-22)

    After the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, Tal Afar was one of the first areas to be affected by sectarian violence. After a brief period of stability in which an interim tribal council governed Tal Afar with relative success, sectarian violence quickly ensued after the U.S. entered the area in 2004. The rise of Al-Qaeda sparked a Sunni insurgency that primarily used violence as a means of opposing the shifting power dynamics. This development was further fuelled by the empowerment of Shia Turkmen in Tal Afar who now enjoyed backing from the central government in Baghdad as well...

  6. 4. CONCLUSION
    4. CONCLUSION (pp. 23-24)

    The long history of sectarian violence in Tal Afar has left deep cleavages within the Turkmen community. The central role Tal Afar played first in the Sunni insurgency and later in the expansion of the IS caliphate has also damaged relations between the Turkmen and surrounding minority communities. When IS took over Tal Afar in June 2014, the vast majority of the local population was displaced. For many displaced Turkmen, advancing reconciliation between the Shia and Sunni component of their community is perceived to be of major importance for ensuring post-liberation stability. Therefore, they see improving intra-community relations as more...

  7. 5. RECOMMENDATIONS
    5. RECOMMENDATIONS (pp. 25-26)

    1. The Tal Afar tribal leaders need to work with the authorities to provide information on IS members and those who may have committed crimes in their name. This will mitigate concerns regarding infiltration by extremists and advance the process of transitional justice by helping to distinguish IS members from innocents.

    2. Any process of transitional justice should avoid an exclusive focus on crimes committed by IS. Accountability mechanisms for crimes committed before, during and after liberation must apply in equal measure and focus to all warring parties.

    3. An international, neutral organisation should provide oversight over and technical support to the post-IS...

  8. 6. REFERENCES
    6. REFERENCES (pp. 27-27)
  9. Back Matter
    Back Matter (pp. 28-30)