 The written language of the Iraqi Turkmen is based on Istanbul Turkish using the modern Turkish alphabet.The Turkish language was recognized as a minority language in Kirkuk and Kifri in 1930, until the military junta introduced the names "Turkman" and "Turkmanja" in 1959 with the aim of politically distancing the Turks of Iraq from Turkey.Then, in 1972, the Iraqi government banned the Turkish language and schools and media using Turkish were prohibited.