Attack Against Yazidis in Batman on Parliamentary Agenda

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Batman MP Feleknas Uca has submitted a Parliamentary question about the attacks against Yazidi people, especially the ones in Kelhok (Kuşçukuru) Village in Batman.

In her Parliamentary question addressed to Vice President Fuat Oktay, Uca has briefly explained what Yazidis are going through in Kelhok:

"As a result of the political pressures in the 1990s, Yazidis had to emigrate to Germany by consigning their lands and properties to their neighbors in the presence of a notary public in 1992. When they returned to Turkey, they saw that their lands were occupied by the villagers. The families tried to get back their properties by peaceful means; however, they could not achieve any results and filed a lawsuit. After an eight-year legal struggle, the court has concluded that the lands belong to the Yazidis.

"However, persisting in keeping their private-registered lands, the villagers have not abided by the court verdict and refused give the lands back. Attacked in the land where they went to plow, Yazidis had to live in hotels for 8 eight years though they have their villages. Land owners Nedim Erkiş and Cevdet Tuku in central Batman were also attacked by a group of 10 people."

'Have you launched an investigation?'

Against this background, Uca has addressed a series of questions to Vice President Oktay including the following:

• Why did the judicial process take 8 years though the title deeds proved that the lands belonged to the Yazidis?
• Though the court has concluded that the lands belong to the families, they cannot plow their lands because they are attacked. Are you working on or have you taken any action about the measures to be taken against the attacks and pressures targeting property owners?
• Has an investigation been launched against the persons who have occupied the lands, not observed the court verdict and attacked the property owners?

(TP/SD)