In response to the allegations that people are travelling from Iran through the Çaldıran district of Van to join ISIS, the Democratic and Free Women’s Movement (DÖKH) has started a vigil setting up a tent in the Sarıçimen (Navri) neighbourhood of the town.

Many people have joined the vigil, including the co-mayors of Çaldıran, Suna Atbay and Faruk Demir, members of the municipality assembly and executives of the DBP as well as a large number of citizens. Speaking here, the co-mayor of Çaldıran, Suna Atabay, drew attention to the state policies at the borders imposed on the Kurds.

“As is well known, the Kurds have been exposed to cruelties and tortures for hundreds of years. Moreover, in the last two years an extensive repression is being implemented on Kurdish people in Rojava [West Kurdistan] through the gangs formed with the support of the imperialist powers” said Atabay, recalling that there have been many actions organised to draw attention to the massacres the Kurds are suffering from.

Putting emphasis on the fact that ISIS gangs are trying to attract Kurdish youth to their own ranks in Van and its districts, Atabay said: “We have set up this vigil tent to call for sensitivity to this fact."

Atabay said the vigil will continue for 3 days and invited all the people to visit the tent.