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Efşê (Kaleli Köyü/Turkey) – Affiliates of the influential AKP politican, Osman Doğru, chairman of the regional section Nusaybin, threatened Êzîdîs from Efşê, Mardin, due to their plans to return to their former villages. The great land owners of the Osman clan claim ownership on this Êzîdî village. The village of Efşê is one of many Êzîdî villages in the Kurdish section of Turkey, situated in the region of Midyat/Nusaybin.
For years now, Êzîdîs have tried to return to their village for reconstruction. Thus, on behalf of the villagers, village leader, Ömer Yumusak, started with the reconstruction and expansion of infrastructure and housing. Yet, during reconstruction works, a group of 15 people of the Osman Family as well as relatives of Halil Çelik from Kartmine, stormed the village and drove out the workers. The clan from Kartmine is the same that already caused trouble to the Christians in that region and the convent of Mor Gabriel. Like in Efşê, they claim ownership on the land the convent was built. Christians who plan to return to their former villages were threatend, too. ÊzîdîPress received reports on compulsory expropriations and random housing developments on Christian estate near Midyat from one of their correspondents, currently staying in Turkey.
Further construction measures were interrupted due to the barricade of the clan members in the village. After the village leader Yumusak filed a complaint, Osman Doğru’s cousin, Mihamedemin Ay from Hasantepe threatend verbatim “What we did to Shingal, we will do to you!”. ÊzîdîPress received this report personally from Yumusak on the phone.
The influential Osman clan is now trying to prevent a resettlement of Christians and Êzîdîs in the region. Moreover, they claim ownership on property in villages without reliable evidence. The clan has already spread into many municipalities in the region. Due to the clan’s far-reaching influence, Efşê’s village leader is now asking the Kurds in the region and the Êzîdîs in the diaspora for help.
The village of Efşê was inhabited by Êzîdîs for centuries before they were forced to leave their homes due to war and the systematic state discrimination policy of Turkey in the 90’s. Nevertheless, the Efşîs have never given up on their village. In past years, they have tried to rehabilitate their village.
Similar incidents happen more frequently in correspondence with the plans of eldery Êzîdîs to return to their villages. In surrounding villages as well, returns have been made difficult for Êzîdîs and Christians.
ezidiPress
