HDP to hold march on Saturday to protest ongoing deforestation

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has launched a campaign against the Turkish army’s ongoing deforestation on Mount Judi, Sirnak province, calling on people to join the party in their Saturday march to the mountain. 

The HDP officials have spoken against the Turkish army’s ongoing deforestation in the Kurdish province of Sirnak which borders Kurdistan Region’s Duhok province where Ankara is accused of deforestation as well. The party has launched the hashtag  #17EylüldeCudiyeYürüyoruz (We are marching to Mount Judi on September 17) on Twitter. 

“We are marching for a greener geography and bluer sky. We are protecting forests by opposing the looting of trees, ecological massacre and the policy of war,” the HDP said in a video shared by its members and supporters along with the hashtag. 

Turkey’s deforestation of Sirnak province’s mountainous areas as well as the nearby mountains in the Kurdistan Region’s Duhok province has been ongoing for a long time but has increased in recent years. The process is carried out by Kurdish village guards who are affiliated to the Turkish interior ministry. 

RELATED: Turkey resumes deforestation in Kurdistan Region: sources   

Pervin Buldan, co-chair of the HDP, said in a tweet that they will “defend the nature in Judi,” adding that “We say there is no passage to plunder.”  

Turkey carries out frequent military operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the deforested areas like Judi in Sirnak and Hirore village in Duhok. 

The Turkish defence ministry said in May 2021 that it shows “maximum sensitivity and attention” to civilians, the environment, and historical and cultural sites in their operations.