The Adilcevaz district of Bitlis, where Kurds, Turks and many peoples live together, has been exposed to discriminatory policies of the state for years.

The Kurds living in Adilcevaz center have lived under the pressure of the state for years. Kurds were not allowed to work in public institutions, starting with the municipality.

Adilcevaz is located between Mount Suphan and Lake Van, and is well known for its landscapes and Arin and Aygır lakes. It has also know for its walnuts.

Yet the majority of the people living in AKP-run Adilcevaz, are poor. Young people, unable to find work, are migrating to Turkish cities.

Adilcevaz Municipality has not paid workers' wages regularly for 3 years. In the last 8 months  dozens of workers have been left without salaries. Workers who ask for salaries and reclaim their rights with the municipal authorities are subject to pressure.

It was stated that the municipal officials threatened the workers and warned them not to talk to the press otherwise they would be dismissed. AKP municipal officials said to the workers: "There is no money, if you want you can leave work." 

A worker who didn't say his name for security reasons, said that the AKP had established a fear empire in Adilcevaz. "Nobody claim for rights in Adilcevaz because of the fear of AKP. We have been experiencing this problem for 3 years, but we haven't even received any salary for the past 8 months."

Another worker said that the authorities told them 'We are at war in Syria, in Iraq'.