| The Turkman now living under the Kurdish administration have been exposed to unacceptable and unbearable oppression. Before 1991, Turkman were holding administrative posts at most government offices. They dismissed them from their offices. The Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) has been applying the same methods as those once applied by the Communist parties in communist countries in order to make the Turkman Kurds and to disactivate the Turkman's political movement. Turkman who are presently holding official posts have been forced to join with KDP. Members, sympathisers of Turkman's political parties and even those who make it clear that he is a Turkman have been exposed to various pressures. They are dismissed from their offices in a manner that is totally against laws, regulations and conventions. Turkman businessmen are prevented from doing business. The worst pressures are observed in the field of education. In 1992, all schools with Arabic medium of instruction were converted to Kurdish. Until that date, Turkman families preferred their children to study in Arabic, the official language of the country. The representations made by the Turkman Front upon request by the Turkman parents were successful with the active support of KYB led by Celal Talabani. Two schools in Arbil and one school in Kifri were opened. The medium of instruction in these schools is Turkish. More and more students are enrolled as time goes by. At present, there are 17 schools in the region where medium of instruction is Turkish. KDP prohibited Turkish education in these schools and is now forcing teachers to teach Kurdish. To this end, it keeps the school under strict control. |