Cizîr (Cizre) Municipality of Şirnex (Şırnak), governed by the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), took some decisions on the names of parks at its council meeting on 8 December. The Municipality Assembly decided to name the park in Konak neighbourhood after Cemile Çağırga, a 10-year-old girl who was murdered during the curfews and whose body was kept in a refrigerator for days. It was also decided to name the park in Sur neighbourhood after Nihat Kazanhan, who was killed by a police bullet. After the decisions taken by majority vote, both parks were opened.

 

SUB-GOVERNORSHIP DID NOT DEEM 'APPROPRIATE'

 

Both decisions were blocked by the district governorship. The district governorship claimed that the names in question were not "appropriate". In its decision, the sub-governorship stated: "Decisions regarding the naming of streets, squares, parks, facilities and the like, and the determination of emblems, pennants and the like to identify the town, require the absolute majority of the total number of members of the municipal council, and decisions regarding their change require the decision of two-thirds majority of the total number of members of the council. These decisions enter into force with the approval of the local administrative authority" and noted that the decisions were not "appropriate".

 

CEMİLE ÇAĞIRGA AND NİHAT KAZANHAN

 

10-year-old Cemile Çağırga was killed by snipers in front of her house during the curfews declared in the city on 4-12 September 2015. Cemile Çağırga's mother kept her daughter's body in a fridge for days so that it would not spoil.

 

12-year-old Nihat Kazanhan was murdered on 14 January 2015 in front of his house in Yafes neighbourhood when he was targeted by the police. The judgement process regarding Kazanhan's death continues. Nurbaki Göçmez, the police officer who murdered Kazanhan, has not been caught for 16 months despite a red notice.