Turkish authorities impose 176 new curfews on villages, towns in Diyarbakır

ISTANBUL

Curfews were imposed in dozens of villages and towns in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır on Feb. 14, ahead of an anticipated new operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The Diyarbakir Governor’s Office said a total of 176 curfews had been imposed in the province to “neutralize” members and collaborators of the PKK, as well as to “seize the materials, shelters and storage areas used by the groups.”

The Turkish authorities often use the term “neutralized” to imply that the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

“A curfew will be in place from Wednesday [Feb. 14] until a second announcement is made” in villages and towns in the districts of Silvan, Kulp, Lice and Hazro, it said in a statement.

The curfews come after Turkey launched “Operation Olive Branch” on Jan. 20 to clear People’s Protection Units (YPG) militants from Afrin. Ankara sees the YPG as a terror organization for its links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).