Attacks against Kurds in Turkish-majority villages, towns and cities in Turkey have become increasingly commonplace, especially within the past few weeks, according to a number of commentators.
In yet another attack, Kurdish seasonal agricultural workers who had arrived in the north-eastern province of Çorum to work in the fields during the summer were targeted by some villagers. Five workers were injured, two of them female, when they were assaulted with knives, reports Jin News.
The incident took place in the Abdullah Ata village in Çorum’s Ikilip district. Speaking to Jin News, İbrahim Çalışır, the son and brother of two injured workers, described how the attack began. He said the irrigation to the field in which they were working was blocked by the villagers about a month ago.
When they applied to the town’s mayor for a solution to the problem, the village head reportedly reacted negatively. Then, on the day of the attack, a villager started complaining about plastic bags being thrown around the field and called his cousin (who was the village head) and subsequently the gendarmerie.
Çalışır stated that they were told-off about this and then sent away by the village head and gendarmerie. Later, a petty officer of the gendarmerie called them.
“While we were talking to the officer, the village head and his sons attacked us with knives. My father Halep Çalışır and my brother İsmail were injured,” İbrahim said. The injured workers had to be treated in hospital. They later made statements and filed complaints against both the officer and the village head and his sons.
Çalışır stated that they moved to another village to stay, accompanied by the gendarmerie, and have decided to return to their south-eastern hometown of Urfa (Riha) as soon as they are paid for their previous work in the fields.
