Kurdish villages depopulated by Turkey

Depopulation of the Kurdish villages in Turkey

A previously depopulated Kurdish village; Ulaş, in Dargeçit District

The number of Kurdish villages depopulated by Turkey is estimated at around 3,000. Since 1984, the Turkish military has embarked on a campaign to eradicate the Kurdistan Workers Party, by the year 2000 some 30,000 people have died, and two million Kurdish refugees have been driven out of their homes into cities.[1][2]

## Background

[edit]

Until the 1970s, about 70% of the Kurdish population of Turkish Kurdistan inhabited one of the approximately 20,000 Kurdish villages.[3] But by 1985, only 58% of the population were still living in the rural areas and much of the countryside in Kurdish populated regions had been depopulated by the Turkish government,[3] with Kurdish civilians moving to local centers such as Diyarbakır, Van, and Şırnak, as well as to the cities of western Turkey and even to western Europe. The causes of the depopulation were in most cases the Turkish state's military operations and to a lesser extent attacks by the PKK on villages it deemed defended by collaborators of the Turkish Government.[3] Often Kurds had to decide whether to become a member of the state-sponsored Village Guards, be deported or else they could face attacks by the PKK.[4] Human Rights Watch has documented many instances where the Turkish military forcibly evacuated villages, destroying houses and equipment to prevent the return of the inhabitants.[4] An estimated 3,000 Kurdish villages in Southeast Anatolia[3] were virtually wiped from the map, representing the displacement of more than 378,000 people.[4] During the 1990s, the Turkish military reportedly deployed the US manufactured helicopters Sikorsky and Cobra to drive out the Kurdish population from the villages.[5]

## Depopulated and demolished towns and villages

[edit]

According to the Humanitarian Law Project, 2,400 Kurdish villages were destroyed and 18,000 Kurds were executed, by the Turkish government. Other estimates have put the number of destroyed Kurdish villages at over 4,000. In total up to 3,000,000 people (mainly Kurds) have been displaced.[6]

The Kurdish Human Rights Project divides the depopulation (evacuation) of villages in 5 phases.[7]

* The initial phase between 1985 and 1989
* The phase of centralization during 1990–1991
* the phase of the systematic village evacuation between 1992 and 1993
* the phase of the escalation of the village evacuation in 1994
* between 1995 and 2001 other villages further villages were depopulated

An estimated of 1,000,000 are still internally displaced as of 2009.[8]

### Timeline

[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2022)

|

#### 1992

[edit]

* November – Kelekçi village destruction

## Government compensation

[edit]

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre stated in 2009 that the Turkish Government has taken "notable" steps to address the internal displacement situation. These include commissioning a national survey on the number and conditions of IDPs, drafting a national IDP strategy; adopting law on compensation and putting together a comprehensive pilot action plan in Van Province and 13 other south-eastern provinces addressing rural and urban situations of displacement.[8]

## Depopulated villages (as of 2023)

[edit]

List of villages which were unpopulated as of 2023:[9]

Province  | District  | Village  | Province  | District  | Village

|
|
|
|
|

Şırnak Province | Beytüşşebap | Dilekyolu  | Hakkari | Şemdinli | Ayranlı
Dönmezler  | Çevre
Kovankaya (Assyrian)  | Meşelik
Tuzluca  | Yüksekova | Ikiyaka
Yenice  | Yazılı
Cizre | Aşağıdere  | Pirinçeken
Güçlükonak | Bulmuşlar  | Çukurca | Çağlayan
Çetinkaya  | Çayırlı
Erdurdu  | Çınarlı
Eskikapı  | Dede
Kırkağaç  | Işıklı
Özbaşoğlu  | Kavaklı
Yenidemir  | Kavuşak
İdil | Ozan  | Kurudere
Yaylaköy  | Siirt | Eruh | Narlıdere
Silopi | Ballıkaya  | Pervari | Medrese
Derebaşı  | Bitlis | Bitlis | Esenburun
Düzalan  | Batman | Hasankeyf | Gaziler
Karacaköy  | Bingöl | Adaklı | Maltepe
Koyunören  | Kiğı | Çomak
Uyanık  | Mardin | Dargeçit | Ormaniçi
Yazıköy  | Nusaybin | Değirmencik
Şırnak | Alkemer  | Kaleli
Anılmış  | Ömerli | Dönërdere
Boyunkaya  |  |  |
Çadırlı  |  |  |
Çakırsöğüt  |  |  |
Güleşli  |  |  |
Günedoğmuş  |  |  |
İnceler  |  |  |
Kapanlı  |  |  |
Karageçit  |  |  |
Kemerli  |  |  |
Koçağılı  |  |  |
Kuşkonar  |  |  |
Seslice  |  |  |
Tekçınar  |  |  |
Üçkıraz  |  |  |
Uludere | Akduman  |  |  |
Doğan  |  |  |
Onbudak  |  |  |

### Villages repopulated after 2007

[edit]

List of villages that have been populated again after 2007:

Province  | District  | Village  | Info

|
|
|

Batman | Gercüş | Cevizli | Unpopulated until 2016[9]
Kozluk | Kolludere | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Hasankeyf | Palamut | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Bingöl | Yedisu | Akımlı | Unpopulated until 2014[9]
Yayladere | Alınyazı | Unpopulated until 2011[9]
Kiğı | Baklalı | Unpopulated until 2011[9]
Yayladere  | Bilekkaya | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Yayladere  | Boğazköy | Unpopulated until 2014[9]
Adaklı | Cevizli | Unpopulated until 2009[9]
Yayladere  | Çatalkaya | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Yayladere  | Gökçedal | Unpopulated until 2011[9]
Kiğı  | İlbeyi | Unpopulated until 2011[9]
Yayladere  | Kırköy | Unpopulated until 2014[9]
Kiğı  | Kutluca | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Yayladere  | Yavuztaş | Unpopulated until 2009[9]
Kiğı  | Yukarıserinyer | Unpopulated until 2012[9]
Bitlis | Tatvan | Anadere  | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Bitlis | Aşağıbalcılar | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Tatvan  | Çavuşlar  | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Bitlis  | Ilıcak | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Bitlis  | Kayalıbağ | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Bitlis  | Kınalı | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Tatvan  | Odabaşı  | Unpopulated until 2012[9]
Bitlis  | Oğulcak  | Unpopulated until 2022[9]
Bitlis  | Sarpkaya | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Bitlis  | Uçankuş | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Bitlis  | Üçevler | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Diyarbakır | Ergani  | Devletkuşu | Unpopulated until 2009[9]
Çınar  | Gürses  | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Ergani  | Kavurmaküpü | Unpopulated until 2009[9]
Dicle  | Kırkpınar | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Dicle  | Kurşunlu  | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Bismil  | Kurudeğirmen  | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Dicle  | Taşağıl  | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Lice  | Yolçatı | Unpopulated until 2009[9]
Erzurum | Hınıs  | Ilıcaköy  | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Hakkari | Hakkari | Aksu | Unpopulated until 2015[9]
Çukurca | Cevizli | Unpopulated until 2011[9]
Çukurca  | Kazan | Unpopulated until 2014[9]
Yüksekova | Sürekli | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Hakkari  | Yoncalı | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Iğdır | Aralık | Tarlabaşı  | Unpopulated until 2022[9]
Mardin | Dargeçit | Akçaköy | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Derik  | Bağarası  | Unpopulated until 2023[9]
Dargeçit  | Çavuşlu | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Dargeçit  | Korucu | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Dargeçit  | Kumdere | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Dargeçit  | Kuşluca | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Midyat | Oyuklu | Unpopulated until 2012[9]
Nusaybin  | Pazarköy  | Unpopulated until 2016[9]
Nusaybin  | Tekağaç | Unpopulated until 2022[9]
Ömerli | Topağaç | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Dargeçit  | Ulaş | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Midyat  | Yenice | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Siirt | Eruh | Akmeşe | Unpopulated until 2014[9]
Siirt | Bağlıca | Unpopulated until 2011[9]
Eruh  | Bingöl | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Şirvan | Cevizdalı | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Eruh  | Kovanağzı  | Unpopulated until 2023[9]
Siirt  | Yazlıca | Unpopulated until 2009[9]
Eruh  | Yanılmaz | Unpopulated until 2009[9]
Şırnak | Güçlükonak | Ağaçyurdu | Unpopulated until 2014[9]
Silopi | Aksu (Assyrian)  | Unpopulated until 2019[9]
Şırnak | Atbaşı | Unpopulated until 2011[9]
Şırnak  | Bağpınar | Unpopulated until 2018[9]
Güçlükonak  | Demirboğaz | Unpopulated until 2011[9]
Beytüşşebap | Doğanyol | Unpopulated until 2016[9]
Şırnak  | Kırkkuyu | Unpopulated until 2011[9]
Şırnak  | Körüklükaya | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Silopi  | Kösreli (Assyrian)  | Unpopulated until 2015[9]
İdil | Mağaraköy | Unpopulated until 2011[9]
Güçlükonak  | Taşkonak | Unpopulated until 2014[9]
Beytüşşebap  | Toptepe | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Silopi  | Selçik | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Silopi  | Yolağzı | Unpopulated until 2019[9]
Şırnak  | Cevizdüzü  | Unpopulated until 2023[9]
Tunceli | Ovacık  | Ağaçpınar | Unpopulated until 2011[9]
Pülümür | Ağaşenliği | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Pülümür  | Akdik | Unpopulated until 2009[9]
Ovacık | Aktaş | Unpopulated until 2014[9]
Pülümür  | Altınhüseyin | Unpopulated until 2009[9]
Ovacık  | Aşlıca | Unpopulated until 2009[9]
Tunceli | Babaocağı | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Ovacık  | Bilekli | Unpopulated until 2015[9]
Ovacık  | Bilgeç | Unpopulated until 2018[9]
Hozat  | Boydaş | Unpopulated until 2018[9]
Ovacık  | Buzlutepe | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Pülümür  | Çağlayan | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Tunceli  | Çalkıran | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Ovacık  | Çambulak | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Ovacık  | Çatköy | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Ovacık  | Çayüstü | Unpopulated until 2012[9]
Tunceli  | Dikenli | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Tunceli  | Dilek | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Nazımiye  | Doğantaş | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Ovacık  | Doludibek | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Pülümür  | Efeağılı | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Ovacık  | Eğimli | Unpopulated until 2012[9]
Ovacık  | Eğrikavak | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Tunceli  | Eğriyamaç | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Ovacık  | Elgazi | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Ovacık  | Eskigedik | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Ovacık  | Garipuşağı | Unpopulated until 2014[9]
Tunceli  | Gözen | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Ovacık  | Halitpınar | Unpopulated until 2015[9]
Ovacık  | Işıkvuran | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Ovacık  | Karataş | Unpopulated until 2011[9]
Pülümür  | Kaymaztepe | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Hozat  | Kızılmescit | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Ovacık  | Koruköy | Unpopulated until 2018[9]
Hozat  | Kozluca | Unpopulated until 2014[9]
Hozat  | Kurukaymak | Unpopulated until 2022[9]
Ovacık  | Kuşluca | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Ovacık  | Otlubahçe | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Tunceli  | Pınar | Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Ovacık  | Şahverdi | Unpopulated until 2012[9]
Pülümür  | Şampaşakaraderbendi | Unpopulated until 2009[9]
Ovacık  | Tepsili | Unpopulated until 2011[9]
Ovacık  | Yakatarla | Unpopulated until 2011[9]
Ovacık  | Yalmanlar | Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Ovacık  | Yarımkaya | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Ovacık  | Yoğunçam | Unpopulated until 2014[9]
Hozat  | Yüceldi | Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Van | Gürpınar  | Bükeç  | Unpopulated until 2009[9]

## See also

[edit]

* Kurds in Turkey
* Kurdish villages destroyed during the Iraqi Arabization campaign
* December 2015–February 2016 Cizre curfew

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ferhad Ibrahim, Gülistan Gürbey. The Kurdish conflict in Turkey: obstacles and chances for peace and democracy, Palgrave Macmillan, 2000. pg. 167. ISBN 0-312-23629-8
2. ^ Dahlman, Carl. The Political Geography of Kurdistan Archived 2008-10-03 at the Wayback Machine pg. 11
3. ^ a b c d O'Shea, Maria T. (2004). Trapped Between the Map and Reality: Geography and Perceptions of Kurdistan. Routledge. p. 160\. ISBN 978-0-415-94766-4.
4. ^ a b c "Still critical". Human Rights Watch. March 2005. p. 3. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
5. ^ McKiernan, Kevin (1999-03-01). "Turkey's War on the Kurds". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. 55 (2): 26–37. doi:10.2968/055002008. ISSN 0096-3402.
6. ^ Gunter, Michael M. (1998-09-01). "An Interview with the PKK's Ocalan". Journal of Conflict Studies. ISSN 1715-5673.
7. ^ Jongerden, Joost (2007-05-28). The Settlement Issue in Turkey and the Kurds: An Analysis of Spatial Policies, Modernity and War. BRILL. p. 82\. ISBN 978-90-474-2011-8.
8. ^ a b Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) – Norwegian Refugee Council. "Need for continued improvement in response to protracted displacement". Internal-displacement.org. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du "Address Based Population Registration System Results". Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 February 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Kurds Are Finally Heard: Turkey Burned Our Villages
* THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS

* v
* t
* e

Anti-Kurdish sentiment

Events|

* Zilan massacre
* Maraş massacre
* Roboski massacre
* Kelekçi village destruction
* Kuşkonar and Koçağılı massacre
* Yazidi genocide
* Sinjar massacre
* Kobanî massacre
* 2021 Konya massacre
* Anfal campaign
* Halabja massacre
* Persecution of Feyli Kurds under Saddam Hussein

See also|

* Place name changes in Turkey
* Destruction of Kurdish villages during the Iraqi Arabization campaign
* Ba'athist Arabization campaigns in northern Iraq
* Persecution of Kurds
* Deportations of Kurds
* 55s incident
* Kurdish villages depopulated by Turkey
* Anti-Kurdish sentiment
* Denial of Kurds by Turkey
* Human rights of Kurdish people in Turkey

* v
* t
* e

Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present)

* Timeline
* Map

Turkey|

| State|

* Government
* National Security Council
* Military
* Army
* Air Force
* Navy
* Gendarmerie
* Coast Guard
* Police
* MİT
* Village Guards

|

Deep state|

* Counter-Guerrilla
* Grey Wolves
* Turkish Revenge Brigade
* Susurluk scandal
* Ergenekon
* JİTEM

Kurdish groups|

| Insurgent|

* KCK
* PKK
* History
* People's Defence Forces (HPG)
* Free Women's Units (YJA-STAR)
* National Liberation Front of Kurdistan (ERNK)
* Liberation Forces OF Kurdistan (HRK)
* People's Liberation Army of Kurdistan (ARGK)
* Democratic People's Union of Kurdish (YDK)
* Democratic Society Coordination of Kurdistan (CDK)
* Free Women's Union of Kurdistan (YAJK)
* Workers' Women Party of Kurdistan (PJKK)
* Free Women Party (PJA)
* Free Women's Party of Kurdistan (PAJK)
* Women's Liberation Movement of Kurdistan (KJB)
* Freedom and Democracy Congress of Kurdistan (KADEK)
* People's Congress (Kongra-Gel)
* Confederation Community of Kurdistan (KKK)
* Revolutionary Party of Kurdistan (PŞK)
* Workers Vanguard Party of Kurdistan (PPKK)
* TAK
* KDP/N
* PJAK
* KKP
* Free Youth Movement of Kurdistan (TECAK)
* Marxist–Leninist Communist Party (MLKP)
* Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement (YDG-H)
* PIK
* HİK
* KH (Hüda-Par)

|

Allies|

* DHP
* TDP
* ASALA (until the late 1980s)

Political|

* HEP (1990–1993)
* DEP (1993–1994)
* HADEP (1994–2003)
* DEHAP (1997–2005)
* DTH (2005)
* DTP (2005–2009)
* BDP (2008–2014)
* HDP (2012–present)
* DBP (2014–present)
* DEM (2023–present)

The conflict|

| 1974–1984|

* Political violence in Turkey (1976–1980)
* Maraş massacre
* 1980 Turkish coup d'état

|

1984–1999|

* 1984 PKK attacks
* Karageçit
* August 1986 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* Ortabağ
* March 1987 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* Pınarcık massacre
* Yeşilova incident
* Battle of Şırnak
* 1992 Taşdelen attack
* Battle of Kulp
* Operation Northern Iraq
* May 24, 1993 PKK attack
* Başbağlar massacre
* Lice massacre
* Winter Campaign of 1994–1995
* Operation Steel
* Operation Hawk
* Operation Tokat
* 1996 Tunceli bombing
* Siege of Varto
* Sazak assault
* Operation Hammer
* Operation Dawn
* Operation Murat
* 1999 Istanbul bombings
* Blue Market massacre

1999–2004|

2000 Turkish Hezbollah crackdown

2004–2012|

* 2005 Kuşadası minibus bombing
* 2007 Ankara bombing
* October 2007 clashes in Hakkâri
* December 2007 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* 2008 Diyarbakır bombing
* 2008 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* 2008 Istanbul bombings
* October 2008 Aktütün attack
* Reşadiye shooting
* 2010 İskenderun attack
* 2010 Hakkâri bus bombing
* 2010 Istanbul bombing
* August 2011 Turkey–Iraq cross-border raids
* 2011 Hakkâri attack
* Roboski massacre
* June–August 2012 Hakkari clashes
* 2012 Gaziantep bombing
* September 2012 Beytüşşebap attack

2015–present|

* 2015 Siirt bombing
* Operation Martyr Yalçın
* 2015 Hakkari assault
* Siege of Silvan (2015)
* Şırnak clashes (2015–2016)
* Siege of Sur (2016)
* February 2016 Lice bombing
* February 2016 Ankara bombing
* March 2016 Ankara bombing
* March 2016 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* 2016 Bursa bombing
* May 2016 Dürümlü bombing
* May 2016 Diyarbakır bombing
* 2016 Cizre bombing
* 2016 Elazığ bombing
* Assassination of Deryan Aktert
* December 2016 Istanbul bombings
* 2017 Diyarbakır bombing
* Turkish airstrikes on Sinjar (2018)
* 2018 Siirt raid
* 2018 Gercüş bombing
* 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria
* 2020 İskenderun shootout
* Operation Claw-Eagle 2
* Operation Claw-Lock
* Zakho resort attack
* 2022 Mersin attack
* Operation Claw-Sword
* 2023 Ankara bombing
* October 2023 Northeastern Syria clashes

Protests|

| Serhildan|

* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1999
* 2001
* 2005
* 2006
* 2008
* 2009
* 2011–2012
* 2014

|

Others|

* Mothers of Diyarbakır

Peace process
and peace efforts|

* 1991–2004 Kurdish–Turkish peace initiatives
* 2013–2015 Solution process
* 1993 Kurdistan Workers' Party ceasefire
* Musa Anter peace train
* 2009–2010 Kurdistan Workers' Party ceasefire

Kurdish leaders|

| Insurgent|

* Abdullah Öcalan
* Murat Karayılan
* Cemîl Bayik
* Bahoz Erdal
* Mustafa Karasu
* Duran Kalkan
* Haji Ahmadi
* Osman Öcalan
* Mahsum Korkmaz
* Şemdin Sakık
* Nizamettin Taş
* Mazlum Doğan
* Muhammad Mustafa
* Hüseyin Velioğlu
* Celal Başkale
* İsmail Özden

|

Political|

* Ahmet Fehmi Işıklar
* Yaşar Kaya
* Leyla Zana
* Hatip Dicle
* Orhan Doğan
* Ahmet Türk
* Murat Bozlak
* Tuncer Bakırhan
* Aysel Tuğluk
* Selahattin Demirtaş
* Nurettin Demirtaş
* Ayla Akat Ata
* Gültan Kışanak
* Pervin Buldan
* Emine Ayna
* Sebahat Tuncel
* Kemal Burkay
* Fatma Kurtulan
* Osman Baydemir
* Sırrı Süreyya Önder

Turkish leaders|

| Military|

* Kenan Evren
* Tahsin Şahinkaya
* Bülend Ulusu
* Nurettin Ersin
* Necdet Üruğ
* Necip Torumtay
* Eşref Bitlis
* Doğan Güreş
* İsmail Hakkı Karadayı
* Hüseyin Kıvrıkoğlu
* Hilmi Özkök
* İbrahim Fırtına
* Faruk Cömert
* Yaşar Büyükanıt
* Aydoğan Babaoğlu
* İlker Başbuğ
* Işık Koşaner
* Erdal Ceylanoğlu
* Necdet Özel
* Hayri Kıvrıkoğlu

|

Political|

* Turgut Özal
* Süleyman Demirel
* Bülent Ecevit
* Ali Bozer
* Yıldırım Akbulut
* Mesut Yılmaz
* Erdal İnönü
* Tansu Çiller
* Mesut Yılmaz
* Necmettin Erbakan
* Ahmet Necdet Sezer
* Abdullah Gül
* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
* Süleyman Soylu

See also|

| Memorials, monuments
and military cemeteries|

* 33 Martyrs Memorial
* Düzce Military Cemetery
* Monument of the Martyrs of Internal Security

|

Other|

* Iraqi–Kurdish conflict
* Kurdish separatism in Iran
* Rojava conflict
* Kurdish rebellions in Turkey
* Kurdish refugees
* Human rights of Kurdish people in Turkey
* Kurdish villages depopulated by Turkey
* Turkish war crimes
* Iraq operations

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