The martial law practice has entered its 10th day in Silopi. Houses are torn down with construction equipment and explosives particularly in Barbaros and Başak neighborhoods that are included in the “urgent expropriation” decree.
With the “curfew” declared on December 14, 2015 in Şırnak’s Silopi district, 29 people were killed during the 37 day long genocidal attacks of the state forces and the resistance mounted against them. After the partial lifting of the ban following a 37 day long resistance, the “curfew” started to go in effect in the evening hours (as opposed to around the clock before). Hundreds of houses suffered serious damage while thousands were damaged less severely throughout the district due to the state forces’ attacks with tanks and other heavy weapons. The state’s special measures were imposed on the district and 8 neighborhoods were first deemed “risky areas” and then included in the “urgent expropriation” to tear down the houses.
YPS/YPS-JIN forces carried out an action against the schools that were turned into police/army headquarters within the bounds of “expropriation”, and armored vehicles on April 4. The district governorate issued a second “curfew” in the morning hours following this action by Civilian Defense Units. Thousands of police and army units were dispatched to the district along with tanks and armored vehicles. Turkish state forces, failing to enter the Başak and Barbaros neighborhoods in the face of YPS and YPS-JIN forces’ resistance, started bombing the neighborhoods with tanks stationed on the hills around the district. Dozens were injured in the bombings and Esra Şalk (2), her grandmother Zülfiye Şalk (70), Behiye Erener (45), Rahime Sanır (16) and Muhyettin, Ahmet, İsa and Sadetting Tonguç from the same family were killed.
Following the clashes, houses in “expropriated” blocks were rigged with explosives and rendered unusable. State forces entering the Başak and Barbaros neighborhoods with construction equipment have started tearing down houses. The citizens were forcibly removed from their homes and were not allowed to take any belongings with them. Dozens of residential and commercial buildings were torn down with explosives.
Meanwhile, it was announced that the houses surrounding Yavuz Selim Elementary School in Barbaros neighborhood would also be demolished. Occasional explosions can be heard from the Başak and Barbaros neighborhoods as construction equipment continue tearing down houses.
