The Syria Turkmen Bloc () or Syrian Turkmen National Bloc () is one of the two major opposition movements of

Syrian Turkmen Syrian Turkmen, also called Syrian Turks or Syrian Turkish people (; ) are Syrian citizens of Turkish origin who mainly trace their roots to Anatolia (i.e. modern Turkey). Turkish-speaking Syrian Turkmen make up the third largest ethnic group ...

s. The party is headed by Yusuf Mulla.Interview with Yusuf Molla in: The party was founded in

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

in February 2012. Still in the foundation phase, it suffered an early split, leading to the emergence of the

Syrian Democratic Turkmen Movement The Syrian Democratic Turkmen Movement (; ) is one of the two major opposition movements of Syrian Turkmens. Headquartered in Istanbul, it emerged in March 2012 from a split inmidst the foundation phase of the Syria Turkmen Bloc, which is the ot ...

. A reconciliatory meeting in December 2012 laid the grounds to the formation of the Syrian Turkmen Assembly. Since then, the ''Syrian Turkmen Bloc'' focused on its remaining strongholds in

Latakia Latakia (; ; Syrian Arabic, Syrian pronunciation: ) is the principal port city of Syria and capital city of the Latakia Governorate located on the Mediterranean coast. Historically, it has also been known as Laodicea in Syria or Laodicea ad Mar ...

and Bayır-Bucak, while the ''Syrian Democratic Turkmen Movement'' focuses on

Aleppo Aleppo is a city in Syria, which serves as the capital of the Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Governorates of Syria, governorate of Syria. With an estimated population of 2,098,000 residents it is Syria's largest city by urban area, and ...

. The founding conference was supported by Mazlum-Der, a foundation linked to the Turkish AKP. After its foundation, the party joined the National Change Current (a coalition of smaller opposition parties). The representatives of the ''Syria Turkmen Bloc'' participated in the meetings for the Syrian Turkmen Assembly.Turkmen demands are key to protecting Syria’s territorial integrity
Zaman Daily News, 24 March 2013 The ''Syria Turkmen Bloc'' is also associated with the Turkmen troops of Nurettin Zengi, Zahir Baybars, Al Huva Billa, Yavuz Sultan Selim, Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, Memduh Colha, Bin Tamime, Katip Al Mustafa, Firsan Tevhid, Sukur ul Turkmen (Turkmen Falcons), which are all under the control of Brigade of Turkmen Mountain led by Muhammad Awad in the Latakia province.

References

Bibliography

* {{Syrian political parties 2012 establishments in Turkey National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces Political parties established in 2012 Political parties in Syria Political parties of minorities in Syria Syrian National Council Syrian Turkmen Assembly Syrian Turkmen organizations Turkish political parties