Turkmen caught in the middle of ISIL terror

Iraqi Turkmen from the Talafar district in the northwestern city of Mosul are left to their fate, as the Islamic State of Iraq, or ISIL, intensified its attacks on Turkmen towns and villages since ISIL's June 11 siege. Worried about their kids' lives, Turkmen hit the road in flatbed trailers, searching for a place to hide. They say, 'This is a journey to the unknown.'

Nearly 1200 Turkmen, the first convoy, have been drifting on flatbed trailers for six days under the sun and became stranded as the Baghdad and Karbala routes have been closed due to security reasons. Now they are waiting for Ankara to offer a hand.

FEAR OF A TURKMEN MASSACRE

Turkmen had fled to Sinjar town as the ISIL militants seized Talafar on June 11. They have taken shelter in mosques, schools, construction fields and even underneath any bridge they found until now.

The Turkmen, who are travelling to the unknown on flatbed trailers, are Shiite and they want to go to the Shiite-dominated cities of Baghdad, Karbala or Najaf, hoping to be safe.

Now they are asking for permission from the Kurdish Regional Government, or KRG, to pass through al-Khazar checkpoint west of Arbil city. Unfortunately the only road that reaches Baghdad and Najaf passes through the Jalawla and a-Khalis routes that are under ISIL's control. KRG officials say they wouldn't let Turkmen pass the checkpoint because they are concerned about a possible 'Turkmen massacre' by ISIL.

EMERGENCY CALL FOR TURKEY

A leading representative of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, or ITC, Ali Mehdi, said that Shia Turkmen are the primary target for ISIL and Turkey should immediately draw a road map for the Iraqi Turkmen. He also suggests that a security zone should be built to protect Turkmen on Turkey's boundary line or within Turkish borders.

'Our brothers are leading a life between the trailers and death. Iraq lost its previous political position. We want to see Turkey's firm stand by us and even protect us,' he said.

FATHERS CRY FOR THEIR BABIES

Faris Abdullah, a Shiite Turkmen father said that this journey to the unknown wore them out and added, 'I have suffered from poverty all my life, but every night I ask myself how I will save my kids from this hell. Then I cry. Do men cry?'

Seeking only a safe haven for their families, Faris said, 'After each door we knock on, there is death by ISIL for us. It is too much to resist.'