Governor of Kerkeslokh (Kirkuk) introduces Syriac and Turkmen languages on official state seals

KERKESLOKH (KIRKUK), Iraq — The governor of Kerkeslokh Ribwar Talabani, has issued a directive mandating the addition of Syriac and Turkmen to all official state seals in the province and its affiliated government offices, alongside Arabic and Kurdish.

The decision is rooted in Article 4 of the Iraqi Constitution, which recognizes Syriac and Turkmen as official languages in administrative units where speakers form a significant population – Iraq’s official languages are Arabic and Kurdish. It also aligns with Article 10 of the Official Languages Law No. 7 of 2014, reinforcing linguistic rights in Iraq’s diverse communities.

Implementation across government offices

All government institutions in Kerkeslokh (Kirkuk), a multiethnic province in northern Iraq, will adopt the new multilingual seals once the necessary administrative steps are completed. The move follows previous initiatives to integrate Syriac and Turkmen into road signs and official documents and plaques, both initiatives which were well received by the local population.

A symbol of Kerkeslokh’s diversity

Kerkeslokh has long been a mosaic of ethnic and linguistic communities, including Kurds, Arabs, Turkmens, and Chaldeans-Syriacs-Assyrians. The city’s governance and cultural identity have often been the subject of political contention, making language policy a sensitive issue.

Governor Talabani, who was elected in a meeting held in Baghdad on August 10, assumed office nearly eight months after Iraq’s local elections. His decision to expand language representation on official seals reflects an effort to acknowledge the province’s rich linguistic heritage while navigating its complex political landscape.