The village of Etmanek, where a vigil began in protest at ISIS attacks, but was then declared a “prohibited zone”, is now encircled by Turkish soldiers. Villagers are protesting, saying the measure is directed at the resistance in Kobanê, and demanding it be abandoned immediately.

While ISIS attacks on Kobanê continue on three fronts, in one of the villages in Suruç district on the border where there are vigils, there is a military occupation after the area was declared a “prohibited zone”.

20-year-old Mahmut Demir complained that their village has been occupied for two weeks, saying the soldiers had told them not to go out in the evening and checked their ID cards. He said the reason for the occupation was to block the resistance, adding that they could not go out on account of being frightened of the troops, and that the women and children were particularly scared. “Their tents were originally inside the village, but after we warned them they moved them lower down the village,” he said.

Another resident of the village, Ömer Ceylan, said that their village was under an occupation, calling it unacceptable. He said the troops were there so that they could more easily assist the ISIS gangs, demanding that the authorities remove the encirclement immediately.