Candidate Proves His Turkmen Identity with Evidence

Kurdistan 01:04 PM - 2024-06-23

Chairman of the Turkmen Political Council in Erbil and an independent Turkmen candidate for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections.

The chairman of the Turkmen Political Council in Erbil, an independent Turkmen candidate for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections, provides compelling evidence of his Turkmen identity to Erbil's Asayish (security). He asserts, "If I am not a Turkmen, then there are no Turkmen in Erbil." However, I am independent, and I refuse to be used for partisan objectives, which is something a political party cannot tolerate, and they seek to disqualify my candidature."

Abdulbasit Khalid, Chairman of the Turkmen Political Council in Erbil, an independent Turkmen candidate for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections, said: "If I am not a Turkmen, then there are no Turkmens in Erbil, but a certain political party labels any Turkmen who does not align with their ideology as not being a true Turkmen."

“I am a child of Tajil, and it is obvious to the native Erbil locals that this neighbourhood is an authentic neighbourhood of the Turkmen and Erbil locals. I have had a Turkmen ID since 2000, and I served as a trainer for the Turkmen forces in 1994 and those are my IDs," Khalid stated.

On Saturday, June 22, 2024, Erbil security issued a statement clarifying that Abdulbasit Khalid is not recognised by them as a candidate for the Turkmen community.

Abdulbasit Khalid is the Turkmen independent candidate
Khalid further stated: “Those who speak on behalf of the Turkmens in Erbil have the support of a political party and are used for party interests. There are attempts to suppress the Turkmen people in Erbil."

Regarding the Turkmen Political Council in Erbil, Khalid said: "The Turkmen Political Council has an official licence, and no one can deny it. Our council serves the Turkmen people and was established for that purpose."

Earlier, Khalid told a press conference that Erbil security forces had summoned him twice. He believes it was related to his candidature as an independent Turkmen candidate in Erbil, but they were actually issued for unrelated reasons.



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