HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party) Şırnak MP Leyla Birlik was arrested in November and released on January 4, after which she returned to Şırnak and continues her work where she left off. Birlik spoke of the latest situation in Şırnak to ANF and said the state attempts to break the resistance of the people of Şırnak by arrests, demolitions and the prevention of aid, but they will not prevail.

“THEY TORE DOWN MOSQUES TOO”

Birlik said that the state forces continued the demolitions in Bahçelievler, Dicle, Yeşilyurt and Cumhuriyet neighborhoods and that the mosques in these neighborhoods were also demolished. Birlik also stated that the de facto curfew continued during the day, and that the Turkish state forces engaged in demolitions in one hand and uninterrupted pressure and attacks on the people of Şırnak on the other. Birlik said: “The people still can’t go out into the streets in Şırnak. It’s impossible for three people to stand together. Any social event, including mourning, is prohibited. They are tearing down houses, they already tore down the mosques. They continue inflicting all kinds of atrocities.”

“ARBITRARY DETENTIONS CONTINUE”

Birlik said frequent detentions also continued in Şırnak and remarked that many who come to the city are detained in the city entrances. Birlik stated that the wave of detention wasn’t limited to Şırnak city center and that there were frequent operations and detentions also in Cizre, Silopi and other districts of Şırnak. Birlik said that these detentions weren't based on prosecutor’s orders or any criminal act for that matter, and that the police detained people arbitrarily only to invent criminal charges later at the police station, under torture.

TORTURE IN ŞIRNAK PRISON

Birlik also said there have been instances of torture in Şırnak prison and that many people were exiled to Mardin prison from Şırnak and almost all of them had signs of battery on their bodies. Birlik pointed out that the conditions for survival on the outside and in prison were reduced in Şırnak and that tyranny and prohibition ran rampant in Şırnak at full force.

“THOUSANDS ARE HOMELESS, LIVING IN TENTS”

Birlik said Şırnak was burned to the ground in most places and that thousands of people continued living in villages and in tents. Birlik said thousands of Şırnak residents continued their resistance to not leave their lands and their city and added: “As you know, the tents put up before were taken down by the state forces. Our people moved in with their relatives in villages after that. At times, there are 3 families in one house. Other than this, many families have been forced to survive in tents put up within villages.”

“AID IS PREVENTED”

Birlik said the aid gathered by the solidarity of Kurdish people is prevented by the governorate and added: “The aid the people of Kurdistan gather for Şırnak are prevented by the state forces. The people heeded all our calls for aid but their aid is prevented without a reason by the governor and the prosecutor.”

“EVEN BABY FORMULA AND DIAPERS ARE BARRED”

Birlik stated that the aid for children was prevented recently, and that the two truck-fulls of baby formula and diapers were confiscated by orders of the prosecutor and the governor. Birlik underlined that they are facing such a violent and uncaring mindset that they can confiscate the necessities for children and stated that the health of thousands of children were put under risk by the governor and the prosecutor.

“THEY ARE AIMING FOR A ŞIRNAK WITHOUT PEOPLE”

Birlik said that the Turkish state’s aim is to depopulate Şırnak and continued: “The people of Şırnak didn’t leave their lands despite all the tyranny and all the attacks. The state can’t stomach the solidarity and resistance displayed by the people of Şrnak. That is why they resort to detentions, torture, executions and prevention of aid.”

Birlik stated that whatever the goal, the people of Şırnak can’t be subdued and asked the people of Kurdistan to continue the support and the solidarity.