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An event was held in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, on Tuesday by the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center to mark World Turkic Language Family Day.
The event was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Baghdad, Anil Bora Inan; Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) President Mohammed Seman Aga; Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center Baghdad Coordinator Ibrahim Ozbilgin; and Iraqi academics working on the Turkic language.
Speaking to an Anadolu Agency correspondent, Ambassador Inan said that on this important day, he conveyed his love and greetings to Türkiye, friends of the Turkic language, and friends in Iraq.
Inan said that as part of World Turkic Language Family Day activities, they participated in two events in Baghdad this week.
They attended an event at the Turkmen Brotherhood Association, where they met with Turkmens.
He added that their second event took place at the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center in Baghdad, where they met with many academics working on the Turkic language.
Inan said they received valuable information about the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center during the event.
“We were impressed by the contributions of the students here and their command of the Turkish language,” he said.
“On the occasion of this event held for Turkic Language Family Day, I send my greetings and love from Baghdad to all people, more than 200 million worldwide, who speak Turkic languages in all their dialects.”
ITF President Aga said he is a member of the Turkic language family and that Iraqi Turkmens have preserved their existence over the last century by holding firmly to their language.
Aga said successive governments in Iraq, especially during the era of the ousted Saddam Hussein regime, pursued policies aimed at “eliminating Turkmens.”
He said Turkmens in Iraq have survived through their traditions and culture.
Despite all pressures, Aga said Turkmens have not abandoned their language, culture, traditions or education.
He added that they attach great importance to Turkish-language education in cities where Turkmens live in large numbers.
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