SARIYA DENIZ

News Center – Newroz Uysal, HDP MP for Şırnak, emphasized that any discussion of peace must begin with truth and accountability, stressing that peace cannot be built on denial or the protection of those responsible for massacres against civilians.

 

In the Cizre district of Şırnak in northern Kurdistan, serious human rights violations occurred during the Turkish-imposed curfew from September 4 to 12, 2015, described as security operations. During these eight days, the area turned into a battlefield, with security forces deploying heavy weapons, including snipers and armored vehicles, in densely populated zones.

 

These operations resulted in 22 deaths, including seven children, caused by deliberate gunfire, and left dozens injured. Homes and businesses were destroyed, leading to mass displacement and a severe humanitarian crisis. The events drew widespread condemnation from international human rights organizations, which described them as blatant violations of international humanitarian law, particularly regarding the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.

 

During the curfew, medical teams were barred from reaching the injured, and fire brigades were prevented from extinguishing fires on orders from security forces. Among the victims was ten-year-old Cemile Çağırga, whose official ID listed her name as “Cizir.” Cemile was shot three times by snipers and died in the arms of her mother, Emine Çağırga, in a tragic scene inside their home.

 

Despite ambulance notifications, medical personnel were denied entry, forcing the family to store Cemile’s body in their home refrigerator for three days. A photograph of Jamila in the fridge spread globally, becoming a symbol of the violations in the region. Journalists who risked their lives brought her story to the world. After three days, her body was finally allowed to be moved, but Cemile was not buried until nine days after her death.

 

Despite the severity of the violations during the curfew, no official investigations were opened into the killings of civilians, including children. The crimes were covered up, and perpetrators remained unaccountable, with no witnesses coming forward to testify about the events.

 

In Cemile Çağırga’s case, the same pattern of neglect and misinformation was followed. The public prosecutor claimed the “incident occurred in Palestine,” an obvious attempt to evade responsibility. However, official documents clearly confirm that Cemile was deliberately killed in front of her home, which should have been her safest place. She was an innocent child, and despite the clarity of the circumstances, no statements were taken from the involved police officers. Her case file remains open under the category of “ongoing investigation,” highlighting the absence of any real steps toward justice or accountability.

 

Why uphold peace?

 

The operation led by Commander Abdullah Öcalan received significant support, particularly from families who lost children. On the massacre’s anniversary, questions resurface: Why and how should this process be upheld? How can files under “ongoing investigation” be reopened? How will mothers’ demands for justice bear fruit? These questions remain unanswered.

 

HDP MP for Şırnak, Newroz Uysal stated that ten-year-old Cemile Cağırga embodies one of the most horrific examples of the massacres: “Forcing a mother to keep her daughter’s body in a home refrigerator, and what followed afterward, is among the most unimaginable acts for reason, conscience, and law.” She emphasized that the crime’s impact remains strongly present and has not faded from collective memory.

 

Uysal explained that none of the perpetrators have been brought to justice, and no statements were taken from any of them, neither during the first curfew nor the second, which lasted 79 days. No information has been revealed about the security units or weapons used, and no steps have been taken to ensure accountability.

 

Denial is part of the war

 

She noted that the “ongoing investigation” designation keeps the case technically open, yet it is used to shield the perpetrators. Every detail of Jamila Cagirga’s case—from the moment the shots were fired to the attempt to move her body—is documented. The family confirmed that the snipers were positioned in the Public Roads building, yet no investigation has been conducted there. “It was possible to identify the perpetrators, but some do not want that to happen. This is part of the policy of denial and war against the Kurdish people,” Uysal added.

 

‘Peace cannot be built by protecting perpetrators’

 

Newroz Uysal emphasized that the designation of “ongoing investigation” is effectively a way to allow impunity, a deliberate effort to delay accountability. She stressed that justice cannot be postponed indefinitely. “All proposals submitted by party deputies to uncover the truth were rejected. Leaving these crimes unpunished is a conscious political choice by the state,” she said.

 

Uysal added that uncovering the crimes committed between 2015 and 2016 is essential for truth and accountability. “Peace cannot be built by covering up crimes or shielding perpetrators. Conflicts cannot be resolved unilaterally; the state must face its responsibility for the emergence of this conflict.”

 

She underlined that  Cemile Cağırga’s case tests whether the process will be based on truth or denial, noting that the responsible security personnel can be easily identified. What occurred qualifies as crimes against humanity. Uysal pointed out that the 2015 case linked to Cemile was never properly investigated or was closed under unclear circumstances, raising doubts about the authorities’ intentions. “A genuine confrontation is needed, no more cover-ups.”

 

Uysal highlighted that Cemile’s mother, Emine Cağırga, has become a symbol of collective memory for the Kurdish people. “Despite everything, she used to say, ‘It is enough that no one else’s children die.’” She emphasized that the stance of mothers represents a powerful moral force in the struggle for peace, demonstrating how women’s and mothers’ will contributes to peacebuilding. “Stopping inhumane practices and achieving true peace requires a comprehensive democratic and social transformation within executive and judicial authorities, as well as the police and military.”

 

She stressed that Cemile Cağırga’s case is a stark example necessitating direct confrontation with the massacres committed against the Kurdish people, calling for the reopening of past cases and holding responsible officials accountable as an indispensable step toward justice and reconciliation.

 

Truth, justice are indispensable for peace