Writing from Diyarbakır
under Blockgade
Diyarbakır, the unofficial capital of the Kurdish
people, has been one of the main locations of armed conflict between the PKK
and the Turkish state. Since August 2015, numerous curfews have been declared
in the city and its villages, hundreds of civilians have been killed, the
center of the 5000 year old city Suriçi was bombed, and half of the old city was
totally destroyed. The curfew still continues in the old city Suriçi. Today is
the 333rddayof the curfew.
Right now, the city is experiencing another
shock. Two days ago, the co-mayors of
Diyarbakır, Gültan Kışanak and Fırat Anlı, were detained by the Turkish police
with the allegation that they are “supporting the PKK terror organization”. Kışanak
was detained in the Diyarbakir Airport, on her way back from Ankara, while Anlı
was detained at his home in the center of Diyarbakir. According to Diyarbakır
Chief Public Prosecutor's Office press release, Kışanak and Anlı were detained
due to statements they had made, covered under their right for freedom of
speech.
Following their detention, all internet connection was
cut across the Kurdish Region. 6 million people have been cut off from the
world for the past 3 days.
