Speaking to ANF, HDP Şırnak MP Aycan İrmez said entering the city center in Şırnak was harder than getting into most countries and that they are facing practices transcending those of the ‘90s. She said: “This place was dubbed the Cizre Republic in the ‘90s, because there were many distinct security practices in place in the province. Right now, we are experiencing worse.”

Aycan İrmez stated that 60% of the city has been torn down, and adding that the demolition continues still in some parts, said: “The demolitions and debris transport continues. I, as a person from Şırnak, am experiencing such a state that it’s like I never had a house there, I never had memories there. They want to destroy and tear down whatever there is that belongs to the past.”

"AID SUPPLIES CONFISCATED BY SOLDIERS"

Aycan İrmez stressed that the people in the city center are still having problems finding shelter and pointed out that the destruction was extensive, but the people are trying to pull together. İrmez spoke of the Şırnak governorate hindering the aid coming into the city: “People are having a hard time finding even rentals. They may not have their former lives, but they are trying to hold on to life in their own lands. As the furniture have also been confiscated, in some homes there are just rugs on the floor. The needs can’t be met. Aid is hindered. Associations have been shut down. We are trying to support the people through our own means but the Şırnak governorate hinders the incoming aid supplies. Two weeks ago, soldiers confiscated the food and aid supplies in our warehouse in Kumçatı. One person responsible for the warehouse was detained. We are facing all kinds of barriers. Unfortunately, this renders us unable to act, and it hurts us. Humanitarian aid is hindered by all means before it reaches the people of Şırnak. We tried to contact the governor on this issue, but he doesn’t answer our calls or get back to us.”

“URBAN RENEWAL IS TO THE PEOPLE’S DISADVANTAGE AGAIN”

Aycan İrmez pointed out that the damage assessment commissions appointed by the Environment and Urbanism Ministry back when the curfew was still in place acted in a deficient and unjust manner and stated that several neighborhoods were announced to be “risky areas”. İrmez pointed out that the work done didn’t compensate the people’s losses and said: “Some contracts are sent to the families under the name of urban renewal. According to these, the title holders can’t make any claims. The contract lists 5 neighborhoods as risky areas. The work will start in these areas first. There is a regulation in there about 100% of the residence area and 50% of the addition. If they had a garden or an oven built in another part of their land, that doesn’t count for residential area. So these areas end up confiscated. There are no articles on the plots. Those will end up confiscated as well. When the assessments were being made, there was a week’s time for appeals because the people were not in their own homes, as if making fun of them.”

“WE CAN’T EVEN WALK BY THE MUNICIPALITY”

Aycan İrmez pointed out that the service buildings were turned into outposts after the trustee was appointed to the Şırnak Municipality and on the issue of the shopkeepers suffering damages said: “The shopkeepers are forced to renew licenses before they even open up their shops again. These people couldn’t do any business for months, they are facing bankruptcy.” İrmez said the trustee wasn’t accepted by the people and added: “We can’t enter, or even walk by the municipality anymore. The municipality building was damaged, and now it’s been given to the Special Provincial Administration. The people can’t use a busy street in this area because the trustee is in that building. You can’t enter the buildings.”

“NOW IT’S OUR TURN”

Aycan İrmez stressed that everybody should come and see Şırnak and said: “People need to see the barbarism implemented here. One needs to touch the people, to listen to their troubles. The people need to be supported, the support should be continuous and the blockade should be overcome. The people of Şırnak experienced the harshest conditions of the war in the region. They displayed great resistance by not leaving their lands. Now it’s our turn, it’s time to support them.”

“TURKEY’S FUTURE IS IN ŞIRNAK”

“Whoever wants to see the future of Turkey, they can come and see Şırnak’s situation,” said Aycan İrmez and urged the people who will make a choice in the referendum in the coming months to look at Şırnak. İrmez concluded her words with: “Turkey’s future is in Şırnak. Supporting Şırnak is supporting all peoples. The public should be conscious on this matter.”