Villagers stated that the felling of trees harmed both the nature and the social structure of the village. The village, which hosts thousands of local and foreign visitors especially in the summer months and is an important belief and cultural centre for Êzidîs, was designated as a tourism area by Şırnak Special Provincial Administration. However, after the construction of a police station at the entrance of the village in recent days, a large-scale tree cutting was started in the forest area for 6 days. It is claimed that the tree cutting was carried out by Sait Sevim, the former district chair of HUDA PAR (Political party associated with Hezbollah) Midyat, Hezex (İdil) Municipality Council members from AKP and the headman of the village.

 

A villager, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said: "Our village has been opened to tourism. Maybe dozens of people visit the village every day. However, unfortunately, a tree felling has been started for 6 days. This tree felling is being done by a person named Sait Sevimli. This person is the former HUDA PAR Midyat District Chair. He gave money to the village headman and made him sign a paper against the tree cutting. AKP members of the İdil Municipality Council also have a hand in this. The public must put a stop to this ecological slaughter."

 

Stating that the slaughtered areas are the deeded property of the people, the village resident said that the slaughter was carried out without their knowledge and this is an offence.

 

CALL FOR PROTECTION

 

Stating that the cutting of trees under the name of police station construction is tried to be legitimised on the grounds of security, the villagers demanded that everyone should speak out against this and that the tree cutting should be stopped.

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut