HDP Parliamentarian Ali Atalan brought the issues of Êzîdî population decline in Turkey and the granting of Êzîdîs refugee status to the parliament. Atalan asked Turkish Prime Minister Davutoğlu why the Êzîdî population in Turkey declined after 1985 and whether the Turkish government had any plans to grant Êzîdîs in Turkey refugee status.

'POPULATION RAPIDLY DECLINED AFTER 1985'

In his parliamentary question, Atalan pointed out that the number of Êzîdîs in Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Syria and Turkey exceeds 800.000, and 80.000 Êzîdîs lived in Urfa, particularly Viranşehir, until the 1970s. From 1980 onwards, Êzîdîs began to migrate to Europe, particularly to Germany and Belgium. Atalan emphasized the rapid decline of Êzîdî population in the Midyat, Savur and Nusaybin districts of Mardin, Viranşehir, Suruç and Ceylanpınar districts of Urfa, İdil district of Şırnak, Bismil and Çınar districts of Diyarbakır, and Beşiri and Kurtalan districts of Batman after 1985.

'WHY DO THEY MIGRATE? WILL YOU GRANT THEM REFUGEE STATUS? '

Here are the questions HDP parliamentarian Atalan asked Prime Minister Davutoğlu:

- How much was the Êzîdî population in Turkey during the first years of the republic?

- How many Êzîdîs lived in Turkey prior to 1980 and where did these people live?

- How many Êzîdîs live in Turkey as of 2015, and where do these people live?

- What are the reasons behind the decline in Êzîdî population in Turkey after 1985? What were the conditions that forced Êzîdîs to migrate?

- What happened to the real estate Êzîdîs left behind as they were forced to migrate?

- What is the situation of villages that were evacuated due to forced migration?

- Can Êzîdîs in Turkey freely practice their faith and culture?

- Do you have any plans to improve Êzîdîs’ freedom to practice their faith and culture?

- What are the main sources of income for Êzîdîs living in Turkey?

- Do you have any plans to locate Êzîdîs, who were forced to migrate from Shengal and seek refuge in Turkey, in Êzîdî villages that were evacuated after 1980?

- Do you have any plans to grant Êzîdîs who migrated to Turkey refugee status?