The grave of Sara Gin, a Sage who passed away 15 years ago, in the Pire Zirav cemetery, which Yazidis consider to be sacred, in the Yazidi village of Yolveren (Cinerya) some 10 km away from Batman city center was damaged by persons suspected to be treasure hunters.

The grave was dug up, the stone broken and Sara Gin’s bones were strewn about. The writing and rose figures carved into stone were also broken.

Villagers said the cemetery is a thousand years old and is a religious visiting site and that the perpetrators must be caught.

“INHUMANE SIGHT”

Villager Pir Cengiz Kiy said they heard noises the night of the incident: “There were dogs barking in the village that night. Occasionally there is a lot of noise in the village. The Batman landfill is near, and the dogs there sometimes come near our village which makes our dogs bark. Sometimes the wild horses on Raman mountain come near. But we were suspicious when in the morning the dogs came to us and motioned to the cemetery. We went to the cemetery and saw the damage.” Kiy said what they saw was inhumane.

“MUSLIMS AND YAZIDIS LIVE TOGETHER IN FRATERNITY”

Kiy said the village cemetery is also a religious visitation site and a monument had been erected in recent years. Kiy added: “Sara Gin who passed away 15 years ago is considered a Sage by Yazidis. As you can see her headstone is inscribed in German and Turkish. The family lives in Europe, and Sara Gin passes away there. The grave is here because this is their land. In the next graves there are other relatives. We don't know who did this or why. But whoever it was, they should pay. This is a Yazidi village but we live with Muslims, together. In the winter the nomads come to stay. We live in fraternity but somebody comes and destroys our Graves.” Kiy said the gendarmeria launched an investigation and continued: “After the incident, we received many calls from our relatives in Europe. The gendarmeria Commander comes to the village at least once a day and has promised himself to catch the criminals. We don't know who it is or why, but we know they should be punished.”

The gendarmerie is investigating the issue.