The new curfews have been imposed in order to clear the shelters and armaments of separatist terror groups and to protect the property of the local people, according to a statement issued by the office of the Governor of Mardin.
Curfews are in place from 6am Friday morning in the following villages and neighbourhoods: Konur, Meşeli, Yalınağaç, Armağan, Atalar, Ürünlü, Yevmi, Simak, Kırmızıgül Ulutaş neighbourhoods of Mazıdağ district, Haydar, Cevizlik, Akbağ, Harabel neighbourhoods of Artuklu, Hisaraltı, Alagöz, Pınarcık, Aşağımezra, Yukarımazra, Bozok, Kelek, and Çayköy neighbourhoods in Derik.
In August, following renewal of the conflict with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the Turkish army began operations in the largely Kurdish southeast of the country, imposing military curfews on cities and towns as it engaged in street-to-street clashes with Kurdish guerillas, youth wings of the PKK.
A recent report from Human Rights Watch condemned Ankara for denying the monitoring organization access to the regions affected by the curfews. Human Rights Watch and the United Nations are endeavouring to investigate allegations of mass human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, disproportionate use of force, and willful destruction of civilian property.
Ankara has justified its military curfews under the Provincial Administration Law, which allows governors to make decisions to ensure “peace and security, protection of the person, public well-being.”
Turkey argues that it is defending itself from terrorism. The PKK has been named a terrorist group by Turkey, the European Union, and the United States.
