While racist attacks against Kurds in Antalya continue, it has been revealed that a gang went on a “Kurdish hunt” under the guise of forest fires. Kurds in the city said they couldn’t leave their houses for several days.
The government’s nationalist and marginalizing language targeting Kurds, has caused unrest throughout the country. Racist attacks, to which seasonal agricultural labourers are routinely subjected, are common in practically all of Turkey’s western provinces. Hundreds of Kurds were recently attacked by racists who were their “neighbours” or “employers” in Ankara, Afyon, and Konya. Eight Kurds were slain in two racist attacks in Konya within ten days, seven of whom were from the same family. Despite this, the government made no statement or attempted to halt the attacks.
Finally, the Kurds were blamed for the forest fires that began in Antalya and spread to numerous districts, the origin of which is unknown. Kurdish citizens residing in the regions where the fire occurred were targeted by provocations on social media posted from false accounts of unknown identities claiming that the Kurds ignited the fire. The houses of Kurds living in the Antalya region where forest fires occurred were assaulted, vehicles holding license plates from Kurdish cities were halted, identity checks were conducted by provocateur organizations, and a “Kurdish hunt” was launched. Although the Mayor of Manavgat stated that this was a provocation, the continued practice suggests that “Kurds are being targeted using forest fires as an excuse.”
Since the forest fires erupted, Kurdish workers, particularly those in the tourism industry, have been unable to leave their homes and travel around the city alone. “Unidentified” persons who are blocking highways and conducting identity checks in the city are waiting for a Kurd to emerge with sticks and cutting instruments in their hands.
‘They use forest fires as an excuse’
One of the city workers, who did not want to be identified for her own safety, spoke to JinNews and stated that they had been in a state of unease for days, that they could not leave the house or get around the town even with private vehicles, and that they had to choose the nearest market or local grocery store even when going to the shopping. “We have been working in the tourism industry here for years,” stated the woman who provided information about what transpired and called for a resolution to this problem. “We’ve never seen anything like what we’re seeing right now. Our route is stopped, and our identities are scrutinized. If it turns out that the person is a Kurd, he is threatened. Forest fires are used as an excuse.”
‘There is no life safety’
“Armed organizations halt passers-by at midnight, especially by choosing dark streets,” the woman stated, emphasizing that not just Kurds but also refugees are targeted. According to her account, all of the gatherings are attended by law enforcement, but they depart without doing anything. So far, no one from any of these groups has been imprisoned. Only in Manavgat, following the mayor’s speech, did the groups withdraw somewhat from the city center. There is no security of life for any Kurdish people that live here right now. We are unable to leave our houses. Everyone warns each other not to leave home. The governor’s office and the police have not issued a statement on the matter, which has resulted in an ongoing investigation.
‘They wander around with weapons and sticks’
Another civilian, who also asked to remain anonymous for security concerns, mentioned that Kurdish households were threatened,” and said, “They come to our houses and demand us to leave here. I talked to some student friends who were also threatened in the same way. They roam around with rifles and sticks, shouting things like ‘Get out, we’ll kill you, they can’t even take your body from here, you’re a traitor, we don’t want Kurds, you burned this area.’ We can’t leave our homes. Authorities must take action immediately. We were there on the first day of the fire to help with the efforts to extinguish the fire, but after a few hours, people we didn’t know began to arrive. Everyone in the room was asked questions such as, “Who are you, where are you from?” They started insulting those who came from a province from the east right away. To avoid any incidents, we moved away from there with a few others. We were forced to flee the house later on as the fire advanced. We couldn’t get to the scene of the fire the other day because village and district routes were closed and identity checks were being conducted.”
‘We can’t leave our home’
The citizen expressed their desire to intervene in the fire but being unable to do so since they cannot leave home and added, “People are asking ‘Where are the Kurds who are living here, why are they not helping?’ This is how they target us on social media, but no one knows that even a single Kurd is unable to leave his or her home. There are Kurds who support the cause, but once it is known that they are Kurds, the provocative speeches and insults begin. We were exposed to it on the first day, but we were not allowed to return. Nobody is making demands to stop these attacks. No one questions, ‘Who are these people with sticks, and what are they doing?”. Finally, the citizen expressed his concern that what occurred in Konya, where seven people from a family were massacred, might happen again.
