A land dispute between Turkey’s Jirkî and Spertî tribes has turned violent in the village of Dönmezler (Berê Derya) of Beytüşşebap (Elkê), Şırnak (Şirnex). On Saturday, Turkish army-affiliated ‘village guards’ from the Jirkî tribe attacked local pastoralists who traditionally take their sheep to graze on the highlands, killing 32 sheep and injuring 35 more, Mezopotamya Agency reported. The assailants also burned tents belonging to the Spertî tribe, escalating tensions in the region.
The ‘village guards’ are pro-government forces aligned with the Turkish military, typically recruited from the Kurdish population, who have been implicated in a wide range of abuses. Turkey’s Gendarmerie security forces responded to the scene, detaining several ‘village guards’ in connection with the incident. However, two of the detained guards, Nurettin Aydemir and Abdurrahman Tarhan Karakol, were released after providing statements. The investigation remains ongoing, with local sources indicating the attack was triggered by a recent court decision that awarded a contested highland to the Spertî tribe.
The Spertî pastoralists had requested protection from the gendarmerie following the ruling, anticipating possible retaliation.
