Nine years later: Şırnak's Kozluca village remembers fallen HÜDA PAR members

The incident, which took place in the village of Kozluca (Xanikê), remains a poignant reminder of the region's turbulent history.

The murders occurred on May 29, 2015, amidst the so-called "Peace Process" initiated in December 2012. While the process was expected to bring peace to the region, it turned into a period of heightened tension and violence for many, particularly the Muslim Kurdish population who faced significant hardships under the state-created PKK hegemony.

During the three-year "Solution Process," the region experienced severe brutality and oppression from the PKK. This period was marked by widespread violence, particularly the October 6-7 events, which left a lasting scar on the local population. Despite the ongoing suffering, the true extent of the violence was often downplayed or ignored in mainstream media.

In the lead-up to the June 7, 2015 general elections, HDP members targeted individuals in Kozluca who did not align with their views. During an "election work" visit, two farmers, Muhammed Şerif Şimşek (35) and Abdulcelil Talayhan (37), were shot while working in their fields. The attack left two wives widowed and nine children orphaned.

The HDP members' deliberate attack on Kozluca, a village historically targeted by PKK attacks in the 1990s, underscored the ongoing violence in the region. Despite being seriously injured, Şimşek and Talayhan succumbed to their wounds at Nusaybin State Hospital.

The attacker, Sedat Teber, a member of PKK/HDP, surrendered to authorities with his father and was subsequently arrested. After a year-long trial, Teber received a total of 42 years in prison, including 18 years for murder and 6 years for possession of firearms. His father, Şerif Teber, was acquitted of the murders despite testimonies from villagers but received a six-year sentence for gun possession.

The village of Kozluca, a long-time witness to PKK cruelties, was once again thrust into mourning with these murders. The pain and suffering endured by the residents serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles in the region. (ILKHA)