Diyarbakir forest named after Turkish ultra-nationalist leader, angering Kurds

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Naming a memorial forest in Turkey’s Kurdish province of Diyarbakir (Amed) after the leader of Turkish far-right party has angered many Kurds, with some wondering what he has done to deserve this. 

Dozens of people from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) as well as Kurdish non-governmental organisations and artists gathered in Diyarbakir city on Tuesday, protesting the decision to name a forest after Devlet Bahceli, leader of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The 210-acre memorial forest has yet to be completed. 

The MHP office in Diyarbakir on January 6 called on people to donate saplings to be planted in Devlet Bahceli Memorial Forest. “Each sapling will be named after one of our martyrs.” Cihan Kayaalp, head of the office, told BBC’s Turkish service this week that 10,000 saplings, mainly fruits, will be planted in the forest. 

“Some deliberately pull it into the political arena, but it's a completely human thing and a work that aims to serve Diyarbakir, and Devlet Bahceli is an important name," he said. 

Filiz Buluttekin used to be the co-mayor of Diyarbakir’s central district of Sur before she was replaced by a pro-government trustee in 2019. She also attended the Tuesday protest. 

“We will not accept this. We do not oppose the establishment of forests. However, there are many great people in Amed [Diyarbakir] but why is’t it [the part] named after them but Devlet Bahceli?” she asked. The forest is being established in Sur. 

A joint statement was read out by the organisers of the protest.   

“Since the foundation of the Republic, the policy of cultural extermination has continued without interruption. Today, we can see a live example. Naming an area in Amed after a person like Devlet Bahceli, who openly opposes Kurds, is a great insult to Kurds,” the statement said. 

Bahceli is known for his nationalist statements and he has strongly endorsed military operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) at home and in the Kurdistan Region and Kurdish fighters in northeast Syria (Rojava). He has also called for the closure of the HDP. The ultra-nationalist leader has even spoken against the Kurdistan Region several times, especially the Region’s decision in 2017 to hold an independence referendum. 

However, Bahceli has said on several occasions that he is not against Kurds but the PKK. 

The PKK is a Kurdish armed group that struggles for the increased cultural and political rights of Kurds in Turkey. Ankara considers it a terrorist organization. 

The head of MHP office in Diyarbakir claimed in her interview with BBC’s Turkish service that those who oppose the naming of the forest after Bahceli are “those who equate the PKK with the Kurds and those who cause confusion in the city.” Bahceli “has not made any negative statements on Kurds,” she added. 

Mithat Sancar, HDP co-chair, said at Turkish parliament on Tuesday that the government is not satisfied with “looting” of Diyarbakir’s resources and now it “continues your attacks on its culture and identity.” 

“The last [example of this] is that they have decided to establish a memorial forest and named it after Devlet Bahceli,” he said. “What has Devlet Bahceli given to Diyarbakir and its people? He has been insulting Kurds every day,” he claimed.  

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