Shiite Turkmen fleeing violence take refuge in Kirkuk

(21 Jun 2014) Shiite families, including some from the Turkmen community, have sought refuge in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk - after their villages were said to have been targeted by militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or (ISIL). Abu Fallah - a Shiite Turkmen - is bed-ridden after a car bomb shattered his leg in April. Still, he managed to escape from his home in Barwashli and arrive in Kirkuk after the village was apparently raided by ISIL insurgents on Monday. It is claimed that he was the last of his Turkmen Shiite kinsmen to escape alive, carried by his relatives. "We have lived with Sunnis and there were never any problems but where these people came from, we don't know," he said, fighting back the tears. "They destroyed and burned our homes. They burned our cars." Abu Fallah's story is said to be similar to those of ‪Shiite Turkmen of Chardaghli, Barwashli and Karanaz - three villages clustered together alongside a canal, near the provincial city of Toz Khormato - and of Basheer, a village near the northern city of Kirkuk. Five families from the village of Basheer now share a cramped living space in Kirkuk with relatives. "ISIL came here to the village but why did they loot? Why did they take our women? Our furniture? Our livelihoods? What was the reason? You came to the village and fought destroying it but why did you pillage?" said one man, who refused to give his name because he fears retaliation. Families who have fled to Kirkuk claim Sunni insurgents, led by the ISIL, were behind the raids. They say they were aided by local Sunnis - in some cases neighbours. It is claimed civilians were fired on, homes and the wheat harvest were burned and sheep were stolen. Another Shiite Turkmen, Hassan Ali, 52, spoke of a massacre where at least 20 men, women, and children were allegedly gunned down in the streets by snipers as they reached the village of ‪Barwashli‬ - thinking they were reaching safety after fleeing their villages on foot. Shiite Turkmen have spoken of long standing relations with Sunni Arab neighbours, but now - unable to return to their homes and their livelihoods destroyed - they have been left wondering what the future holds. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...