Turkey imposes curfews in dozens Kurdish villages

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Kurdistan24) – On Wednesday, Turkish government declared new curfews on dozens of villages and towns in the country's Kurdish southeastern areas of Diyarbakir and Mus.

Kurdistan24 office in Diyarbakir learned from Turkish security sources that the government authorities imposed curfews on about 35 villages and towns.

“Curfews were imposed in about 25 villages around Diyarbakir province and about 10 villages and towns around Mus province,” Turkish security sources said.  

"Curfews were imposed by the security forces for conducting more military operations, and the curfews were followed by arresting dozens of civilians from Mus, including some of my relatives," a political activist in Mus told Kurdistan24 on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

Additionally, the Netherlands-based Kurdish Firat News Agency (ANF), a close associate of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), detailed the names of villages and neighborhoods under curfew.

"The curfew will involve the Kayalisu village and the neighborhoods of Ortulu, Bugdayli, Yilmaz, Dalakulig, Yildizli, Buyukler, Malaali, Bres, Licik and Geliyahacike affiliated with the village," ANF reported.

Regarding the reason of the curfews, ANF said that they were imposed on the grounds of military operations.

However, the Turkish state-run press agency Anadolu Agency (AA) said, "The Turkish Armed Forces, in cooperation with the police, has launched broad anti-terror operations … aimed at clearing cities of PKK terrorists, filling in trenches, removing barricades, and destroying explosive traps," AA reported.

On March 14, the Turkish authorities declared a curfew in Mardin’s districts of  Nusaybin and Sirnak followed by violent operations that led to mass destructions in both cities.

For nearly two months, both towns witnessed unceasing shelling after clashes between the Turkish army and the Kurdish fighters of PKK, along with their new youth formations YPS and HPG.   

Editing by Ava Homa