COLEMÊRG – Wergenima, a village in Gever that has faced restricted anty and exit since 2016, is surrounded by military towers and border walls. In the village, which resembles a prison, not only cultural activities but even breathing is prohibited due to the dusty roads.
Wergenima, a village in the Gever (Yüksekova) district of Colemêrg (Hakkari), has been under heavy military restrictions since 2016. Located on the Iranian border, the village has been turned into a militarized zone surrounded by border walls and guard towers. Due to military prohibitions and blockades imposed under the pretext of border security, the village has been subjected to intense pressure for years. Highland pastures have been banned, grazing areas declared military zones, and access to water sources obstructed. Landmines, dust clouds from broken roads, and unreachable water sources due to the border wall are making life increasingly difficult. Landmines left uncleared in areas where children play continue to claim lives. Most recently, a child named Yusuf Akın was severely injured in an explosion while playing near a military post.
SURROUNDED BY 4 MILITARY POSTS AND 12 GUARD TOWERS
The village is now encircled by four military border posts and 12 watchtowers built in recent years. During military road construction, many irrigation channels were destroyed, and the resulting dust clouds are worsening health issues. A significant rise in asthma and respiratory illnesses has been reported.
Entry to and exit from the village is only allowed between 07:00 a.m. and 07:00 p.m. In the evenings, even residents must obtain a special permit from the district governor's office to enter the village. Relatives not registered in the village are not allowed in under any circumstances, even for weddings or emergencies. Relatives with Iranian citizenship are entirely prohibited from entering.
EVEN WEDDING RITUALS BANNED
Traditional wedding rituals have also been banned. Cultural elements like drums and zurna are prohibited, forcing villagers to hold quiet and sparsely attended weddings. Since grazing is banned in highlands such as Berekeşk, Odemiş, Meydanok, and Mênûşa, there are no shepherds left in the village. Even those who want to graze livestock must get a permit. These prohibitions have nearly wiped out agriculture and livestock farming. While the village once had over 150 homes, only 25 remain due to migration caused by bans and repression.
THEY CAN'T EVEN BREATHE
Dust clouds surrounding the village from road construction sites are causing serious health problems, especially among children. Hülya Şen, a resident, said: “Our children are constantly getting infections. We can’t even hang out our laundry. We want the roads to be paved and to live freely in this village.”
ONLY 25 HOMES LEFT FROM THE ORIGINAL 150
Resident Harbi Şen stated: “Due to the bans and pressure, people have had to leave. Livestock farming is nearly gone. It feels like an open-air prison. Because of the 500-meter border restriction, there's no space left for the village.”
LANDMINES POSE A DEADLY THREAT
Tekin Akın, the father of Yusuf Tekin, who was severely injured by a landmine explosion, said: “The back of my house is full of mines. My son was injured, and many of our sheep were killed. These mines must be cleared immediately.”
CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE AND PRIVACY VIOLATIONS
High surveillance towers and cameras set up around the village can even record inside homes. Villagers say being constantly watched creates psychological pressure. Water sources in the village have been cut off by the border wall. Residents face serious problems accessing drinking and irrigation water. Fikri İliş, who says both the highlands and the village have been devastated, stated: “My highland area was destroyed, 300 of my trees were cut down. We have no drinking or irrigation water. Our roads are in terrible condition. The state never built roads, and the ones we had were ruined by construction vehicles.”
THEY WANT THE BANS TO BE LIFTED
Villagers say they can’t even bring in outside workers for home repairs, and maintenance work is disrupted. Despite applying to the Hakkâri Governor’s Office many times, they haven’t received any response. The villagers emphasize that their only demands are for the bans to be lifted, roads to be paved, and the water problems to be resolved. Villagers stated that they wish a free life.