Village under military blockade: Even breathing is forbidden in Wergenima

img

COLEMÊRG – Wergenima, a village in Gever that has faced restricted anty and exit since 2016, is surrounded by military towers and border walls. In the village, which resembles a prison, not only cultural activities but even breathing is prohibited due to the dusty roads.

 
Wergenima, a village in the Gever (Yüksekova) district of Colemêrg (Hakkari), has been under heavy military restrictions since 2016. Located on the Iranian border, the village has been turned into a militarized zone surrounded by border walls and guard towers. Due to military prohibitions and blockades imposed under the pretext of border security, the village has been subjected to intense pressure for years. Highland pastures have been banned, grazing areas declared military zones, and access to water sources obstructed. Landmines, dust clouds from broken roads, and unreachable water sources due to the border wall are making life increasingly difficult. Landmines left uncleared in areas where children play continue to claim lives. Most recently, a child named Yusuf Akın was severely injured in an explosion while playing near a military post.
 
SURROUNDED BY 4 MILITARY POSTS AND 12 GUARD TOWERS
 
The village is now encircled by four military border posts and 12 watchtowers built in recent years. During military road construction, many irrigation channels were destroyed, and the resulting dust clouds are worsening health issues. A significant rise in asthma and respiratory illnesses has been reported.
 
Entry to and exit from the village is only allowed between 07:00 a.m. and 07:00 p.m. In the evenings, even residents must obtain a special permit from the district governor's office to enter the village. Relatives not registered in the village are not allowed in under any circumstances, even for weddings or emergencies. Relatives with Iranian citizenship are entirely prohibited from entering.
 
EVEN WEDDING RITUALS BANNED
 
Traditional wedding rituals have also been banned. Cultural elements like drums and zurna are prohibited, forcing villagers to hold quiet and sparsely attended weddings. Since grazing is banned in highlands such as Berekeşk, Odemiş, Meydanok, and Mênûşa, there are no shepherds left in the village. Even those who want to graze livestock must get a permit. These prohibitions have nearly wiped out agriculture and livestock farming. While the village once had over 150 homes, only 25 remain due to migration caused by bans and repression.
 
THEY CAN'T EVEN BREATHE
 
Dust clouds surrounding the village from road construction sites are causing serious health problems, especially among children. Hülya Şen, a resident, said: “Our children are constantly getting infections. We can’t even hang out our laundry. We want the roads to be paved and to live freely in this village.”
 
ONLY 25 HOMES LEFT FROM THE ORIGINAL 150
 
Resident Harbi Şen stated: “Due to the bans and pressure, people have had to leave. Livestock farming is nearly gone. It feels like an open-air prison. Because of the 500-meter border restriction, there's no space left for the village.”
 
LANDMINES POSE A DEADLY THREAT
 
Tekin Akın, the father of Yusuf Tekin, who was severely injured by a landmine explosion, said: “The back of my house is full of mines. My son was injured, and many of our sheep were killed. These mines must be cleared immediately.”
 
CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE AND PRIVACY VIOLATIONS
 
High surveillance towers and cameras set up around the village can even record inside homes. Villagers say being constantly watched creates psychological pressure. Water sources in the village have been cut off by the border wall. Residents face serious problems accessing drinking and irrigation water. Fikri İliş, who says both the highlands and the village have been devastated, stated: “My highland area was destroyed, 300 of my trees were cut down. We have no drinking or irrigation water. Our roads are in terrible condition. The state never built roads, and the ones we had were ruined by construction vehicles.”
 
THEY WANT THE BANS TO BE LIFTED
 
Villagers say they can’t even bring in outside workers for home repairs, and maintenance work is disrupted. Despite applying to the Hakkâri Governor’s Office many times, they haven’t received any response. The villagers emphasize that their only demands are for the bans to be lifted, roads to be paved, and the water problems to be resolved. Villagers stated that they wish a free life. 

View More Articles

29/07/2025
19:26 Journalists in front of Israeli Consulate: We stand with our Palestinian colleagues
19:12 Impunity decision in case of women's bodies being publicly displayed during Cizîr curfew
18:06 Asrin Law Office: Biased and false news about Veysi Aktaş aimed at undermining the process
10:59 'We Want graves of our loved ones and the perpetrators to be prosecuted'
10:40 Police officer who killed 7-year-old child will not be prosecuted
10:16 33 Years without journalist Abayay: His successors continue the search for truth
09:56 Call to strengthen the Democratic Unity Initiative
09:32 Jakob Migenda: Öcalan's freedom is a sign of the liberation of peoples
28/07/2025
21:45 Öcalan: Participation of all segments in process is a vital necessity
21:08 Abdullah Öcalan and prisoners in İmralı meet with families
12:12 Letter from 100 women: We want to meet Öcalan
11:02 Observation Boards target hopes for peace and resolution
10:44 Two prisoners’ sentences cancelled at Düzce T-Type Prison
10:14 Why the Autonomous Administration and Damascus meeting postponed?
09:26 Participants in National Unity Conference: We can win together
26/07/2025
12:24 Unity among Kurds will lead to victory says Mehmet Kamac
12:04 'Conference on the Importance of Kurdish National Unity' begin
09:10 Veysi Aktaş who held in İmralı releases
09:04 Statement by İmralı delegation after meeting with Abdullah Öcalan
25/07/2025
09:50 Letter from 88 Nobel laureates to international organisations
24/07/2025
10:08 Mexmur Residents: We want to return to our lands with dignity
10:05 Peace Mothers Assembly: Peace cannot be one-sided
09:57 Conferences in Bazîd and Mêrdîn to focus on Kurdish Unity and Peace Process
23/07/2025
09:15 Emine Ocak passed away
22/07/2025
13:17 Democratic Alevi Associations Co-chair: Burning weapons marks the birth of new existences
13:01 Lawyer Veysi Atmaca: Constitutional reform is vital for resolving the Kurdish issue
12:38 Legal guarantees are needed for those who lay down arms says journalist Bayramoglu
12:13 Citizens in Aydın: All parties must engage their base in peace process
21/07/2025
15:21 Letter to 18 countries: Recognise the Yazidi genocide
14:56 You will witness progress taking place on the Parliament floor says Erdogan
14:00 'Freedom for Öcalan' march to be organised in Europe
13:37 We will build a free and equal life says DEM Party Women’s Assembly Spokesperson
12:52 Women to lead the process by expanding their organization
12:33 MIT Director Kalın to visit DEM Party
12:17 35 prisoners denied release in Bolu Prison
11:04 Circassians want to take part in Parliamentary Peace Commission
10:49 Civil society launches petition to join peace process in Amed
10:13 No government formed in Kurdistan region nine months after elections
09:58 Kurdish mother demands peace and justice after losing two children
20/07/2025
21:06 We will organise more in the new period says DBP Co-chair
20:43 Final Declaration from Êzidîs
20:00 Iran attacks on Eastern Kurdistan Defense Units
14:25 Commemoration for 33 'Dream Travelers': Call for accountability
11:19 Zeynep Yaman: My baby faced state violence before was even born
10:36 Watching the historic ceremony: Denial and assimilation must end
10:13 A Dream Traveller on road to Kobanê: Hogir
18/07/2025
21:10 85-year-old ill prisoner Sıddık Guler releases
21:01 What decisions taken at Commission meeting?
19:55 Release of 30-year prisoner postponed for the 2nd time
19:03 2 journalists acquitted 1 journalist sentenced