Special War Policy in Hakkari: Prostitution, Drugs and Gangs

Hakkari (Colemêrg), located in the triangle of Bakur (North), Başûr (South) and Rojhilatê (East) Kurdistan, has become the target of the special policies of the Turkish state. Within the scope of the special war policies implemented by the Turkish state, prostitution, drug sales and use, mafia and gangs have increased. Murder, torture and ill-treatment have become daily practice. The residents of the city are targeted by armored vehicles and police bullets.

Speaking to ANF about the special war policies implemented by the state, DEM party Colemêrg Provincial co-chair Hümeyra Armut said: “Especially after 2015, special war policies were widely implemented in various provinces and Hakkari and Şırnak were among them. Special attention was even paid to these two cities. While the state forbids even a bird to fly here, drugs can easily be brought into the city and sold. Likewise, prostitution is also freely practiced. Most of these things are actually carried out by state officials. We have also found drugs in police cars. There are many examples of this kind.”

‘Charges and Filings Policy’

Hümeyra Armut drew attention to the fact that the state has been pursuing a policy of intimidation and subjugation of the people of Colemêrg since 2015 and added: “What happened in Hakkari after the local elections of March 31 (2024) should be examined in detail. This was a period when the special war policy was at its peak. The state focused on targeting this area. Hakkari is a city with a dense young population. The state wants to squeeze the youth into a narrow area. Theft, prostitution and drugs are being tried to normalize here. These are not coincidences; they are part of a systematic assimilation process. The festivals and concerts that are being held are also moving in this direction. Recently, a sergeant major harassed a 17-year-old girl at a festival in Çukurca. Such incidents are deliberate actions aimed at corrupting society through youth and women. In addition, usury is also widespread in the city and We believe this situation has been created by the system.”

‘The aim is to transform the city into a military area’

Armut stressed that the number of suicides among women and young people in Colemêrg has increased in recent years and said: “Young people are forced to migrate to metropolises because they cannot find a place to live here and are desperate. In this way, the state tries to alienate and separate young people from their land. They are dragged into drugs. The aim is to destroy the city, leave it with nothing, empty it and turn it into a military area. Çukurca has now become a military area and security forces can be seen everywhere. A special war policy is being implemented in Hakkari and an atmosphere of fear is being created. Young people who want to exercise their right to protest are being targeted with bullets. Young people who play Kurdish music and dance the Kurdish halay are being detained. Local artists who sing Kurdish songs are being arrested because of their songs.”

‘Kurdish language and culture are denied’

Armut said: “The basis of special war policies is the denial of Kurds, the denial of the Kurdish language, art and culture. The aim is to create chaos. The AKP government is trying to legitimize itself by conducting politics through the Kurds in order to maintain its own power. As a result, an understanding is created that does not accept the Kurds and their language. The policy that the AKP is pursuing is a policy of total hostility. We are working hard to prevent this and we must form a common line of struggle against special war policies.”