In Iraq, following Kirkuk, it was announced that Turkish will be used in all official correspondences in state institutions in addition to Arabic in Salahaddin province as well. The Turks, who are prominent in Salahaddin city, joyfully welcomed the long-awaited law.

Atif al-Najjar, a member of the Salahaddin Provincial Council in Iraq, stated that, according to Article 4 of the Iraqi Constitution, Turkish has been recognized as an official language in regions with a high Turkish population and has the right to be used in official correspondences. Najjar expressed that based on this constitutional article, Turkish can now be used in all official correspondences in the city center, districts, towns, and villages of Salahaddin province.

WILL ALSO BE USED IN SIGNS However, Najjar pointed out that despite this right being included in the law, it has not been implemented until now. He mentioned that not only in official correspondences but also in the signs of state institutions, Turkish will be included alongside Arabic. Emphasizing that Turks are the second largest ethnic group in the Salahaddin province after Arabs, Najjar noted that this step was taken to preserve all rights of Turks nationwide.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW DELIGHTS TURKS Ahmed Abbas, living in the Tuzhurmatu district of Salahaddin province, expressed his happiness about the use of Turkish in official correspondences. Abbas stated that they have been waiting for the implementation of this law for a long time but it had not taken effect yet. He said that seeing Turkish in official institutions in Salahaddin is like a dream come true. Recalling that even speaking Turkish was prohibited during the Ba’ath Party era, Abbas evaluated the inclusion of Turkish in official correspondences and institution signs as evidence of the Turkish presence and influence in the city. Abbas demanded that this constitutional right be applied not only in Salahaddin but also in all regions with a high Turkish population in Iraq.