ŞIRNAK - Reacting to the fact that the bodies were taken by armored vehicles and buried as a whole in the cemetery of the nameless in Şırnak, the women, the executive of MEBYA-DER, said: ‘’This is torture to families and bodies.’’

 

The bodies of People’s Defence Forces (HPG) and Free Women’s Units (YJA STAR) members who lost their lives in the ongoing military operations in the Cudi, Gabar, Namaz Mountains and Besta regions of Şırnak are kept in the morgue for days in Şırnak State Hospital, where they were taken. Following the announcement of the identity information of HPG and YJA STAR members, families who applied to take the bodies and gave DNA samples were kept waiting for months and all their attempts were left unanswered.

 

It was learned that even the bodies with matching DNA were sometimes buried in the cemetery of the nameless without informing the families, while the bodies that had been kept in the morgue for the last few months were taken from the morgue with armored vehicles and buried a whole in the cemetery of the nameless. The presence of 69 graves in the cemetery of the nameless, where 32 graves were located five months ago, reveals what happened. 

 

Asiye Arslan and Hezni Arslan, executives of the Solidarity, Unity and Culture Association with Families Lost Their Relatives in the Cradle of Civilization (MEBYA-DER), reacted to what happened.

 

‘They torture’

 

Speaking about the attacks on cemeteries, Asiye stated that the Kurdish people have been subjected to attacks and oppression in every way for years. Pointing out that the treatment to bodies is unacceptable, Asiye said: ‘’They dismember bodies and torture them. The bodies of the guerrillas who lost their lives are buried as hidden. They have been attacking our cemeteries and funerals since the 90s. Families cannot reach their family members’ body. Consciously, the dead bodies are not given to the families. In this way, families are also tortured. This is torture. The state is doing all kinds of cruelty on families.’’

 

‘The bodies should not be tortured’

 

Finally, Asiye sated: ‘’There are bodies that have been kept in Şırnak for months and they are not given to families. Families gave DNA repeatedly, but did not respond to the families. The identities of the bodies were announced and their families applied, but they did not respond to the families’ applications. In the middle of the night, the bodies were taken from the morgue by armored vehicles and taken to the cemetery of the nameless and buried as a whole there. Isn’t this cruelty? Isn’t it torture? They are trying to prevent the bodies from being buried with a mass ceremony when they are taken by the families. The state is even afraid of our funerals. Hundreds of people were killed in the basements of Cizre, but the whereabouts of many of their bodies is still unknown. The mentality is the same. There is no example of this in any religion or morality. Families do not bow down to these policies, and neither do we. We do not accept. Bodies should not be tortured. The bodies should be handed over to their families.’’

 

‘Mother has been searching for her child’s body for years’

 

Hezni Arslan emphasized that all mothers have the right to claim their children’s bodies. Stating that all mothers and families have the right to know where their family members’ dead bodies are, Hezni said: ‘’Mothers suffer the most. Mothers have been searching for the bodies of their children for years. I understand the feelings of those mothers very well. Their only wish and hope is to reach the bodies of their children. The government should approach it from this direction. Bodies should be given to families before it's too late. They bury our children’s bodies in their own way and bury them in other places. That the rulership is doing today is a great immorality. What do they want from the bodies?’’

 

‘They abduct bodies’

 

Hezni, who called for not to remain silent against the pressure and persecution of the dead bodies, said: ‘’Our conscience does not accept this, it should not. Places are constantly being changed. Families have been searching for their family member’s bodies for years. They should not abduct the bodies. They have no right to this. This cruelty is unacceptable. Let’s unite and claim to dead bodies. International states should also voice this. We must defend our rights. We have been under oppression and persecution for years, but no one has done anything for us. Our people should claim the bodies and protect their values together with families.’’