Europe

Turkey Kurds: Many dead in Cizre violence as MPs' march blocked

  • 10 September 2015
  • From the section Europe
The leader of Turkey's main pro-Kurdish HDP Selahattin Demirtas (C in white shirt) and his delegation cross through a field after the road leading to Cizre was blocked by the Turkish security forces in Sirnak (9 Sept 2015) Image copyright AFP
Image caption A delegation from the pro-Kurdish HDP set off on foot for Cizre on Wednesday after their route was blocked

At least 30 people have died in clashes in the Turkish town of Cizre since a military operation began there last week, Turkey's interior ministry says.

The ministry says most of the dead were Kurdish militants but the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) says 20 civilians were killed in the violence.

Locals say Cizre has been "under siege" since the military imposed a curfew.

On Thursday police stopped a delegation of HDP leaders who were trying to reach the south-eastern city on foot.

The group includes the party's leader Selahattin Demirtas and 30 members of parliament, who say they want to draw attention to what is happening in the mainly Kurdish area.

They were intercepted by police near Idil, 28km (17 miles) from Cizre.

Image copyright AFP
Image caption The road to Cizre was blocked by Turkish security forces

Turkey-PKK conflict: Why are clashes escalating?

Deadly clashes between Turkish forces and the militant Kurdish organisation, the PKK, have intensified since a ceasefire collapsed in July.

Turkish jets have bombed PKK bases in northern Iraq and the army has boosted security and imposed curfews across the south-east.


Analysis: Selin Girit, BBC Turkish, Istanbul

Critics accuse the government of "punishing" Cizre, as 92% of the town voted for the HDP in the June elections.

The HDP's success in those elections had cost the governing AK its parliamentary majority.

Snap elections are called for 1 November and concerns are being voiced about the security of the poll, especially in the predominantly Kurdish east and south-east of the country.

Ertugrul Kurkcu, one of the HDP lawmakers trying to get to Cizre, said if the violence in the city did not end soon, it might set an example for other areas.

"If the situation carries on like this, every town where the HDP got huge support in June elections will be treated in the same way. We think that will have terrible consequences," he said.

Grim reports from Cizre


Image copyright DIHA
Image caption Cizre residents sit around the body of Meryem Sune, the mother of seven who died after being hit by shrapnel

Mr Demirtas said the humanitarian situation in Cizre was worsening, with people unable to buy bread or access water.

The body of a 10-year-old boy killed in the violence was being kept in a refrigerator by family members because restrictions on movement meant they could not take him to the mortuary, the BBC was told.

Meryem Sune, a 53-year-old mother of seven, could not be buried for two days and her body was first kept cold by ice bottles, local reports said.

Ms Sune was hit by shrapnel and died of her injuries because she was not allowed into hospital for treatment.

Asiye, an eyewitness from Cizre's Nur neighbourhood, told the BBC that Turkish security forces had not just besieged the town but also were operating inside, blocking access between different neighbourhoods.

He also talked about seeing a crowd carrying a 14-year-old injured boy to a place where people hoped he would be picked up by an ambulance.

Turkish Interior Minister Selami Altinok said the curfew would continue until the military operation was completed.

The ministry also said the HDP delegation had not been allowed into Cizre because of security concerns.

But Saruhan Oluc, one of HDP lawmakers trying to get to the town, said such statements were groundless.

"We don't believe we face any threats from the people of the town. The only threat we face is from the soldiers who block our way and don't let us in," he told the BBC.

Image copyright @garopaylan
Image caption MP Garo Paylan tweeted this photo on Thursday morning showing Selahattin Demirtas (centre, on phone) and colleagues

Mr Demirtas warned the country was heading towards civil war.

Turkish prosecutors are currently investigating the HDP leader for insulting the president.

They want to have the MP stripped of his parliamentary immunity.

Image copyright Reuters
Image caption Violence in Cizre, near the Syrian border, has killed several civilians

Separately, the interim government has deported a Dutch journalist.

Freelancer Frederike Geerdink, who was arrested on Sunday, was accused of links to the PKK.

Earlier in the month, two British journalists with Vice News were deported. Their Iraqi colleague remains in detention.

More than 40,000 people have died since the PKK launched an armed campaign in 1984, calling for an independent Kurdish state within Turkey.

The ceasefire that began in 2013 unravelled in July, after a suicide bombing by suspected Islamic State militants near the border with Syria.

The attack led to mutual recriminations between Kurdish groups and Turkey.


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