Siverek
Encyclopedia
Siverek is a town and district in the south-east of Turkey
, in Şanlıurfa Province
. Population 107,634 (town); 247,000 (district) (2000 census).
Siverek is in Şanlıurfa province but closer geographically to the large city of Diyarbakır
(approx 83 km). In the Ottoman Empire
period Siverek was within the province of Diyarbakır, and the people of Siverek are famously reluctant to accept being part of Şanlıurfa even today.
In the countryside the people are mostly ethnic Kurd. There is also a Turkmen
community in the village of Karacadağ and a small number of Arabs. The people are poor and live by working in the fields here and as share-croppers in the villages of neighbouring Diyarbakır. They are famously welcoming to visitors.
The town has little in the way of social amenities such as cafes, cinemas or parks but the ayran
of Siverek is known for its quality.
, the former DYP member of parliament who survived the car crash in the Susurluk scandal
. He is the leader of the Bucak clan, one of whom has represented the area in the Turkish Parliament since its foundation. Sedat Bucak remains a friend of current DYP leader Mehmet Ağar
.
The Bucak clan are Zaza people who moved to Siverek from nearby Diyarbakır in the 1800s. They have always been loyal to the Turkish state, particularly during the Shaikh Said uprising in the 1920s. They were members of the party of Adnan Menderes
' Demokrat Parti but survived the coup that deposed Menderes in 1960. The Bucak were also active in the struggle against the Kurdish separatist PKK. In the 1970s the Bucak family were targeted by the PKK and they continued to actively oppose the PKK all through the 1990s and beyond. During this period hundreds of members of the Bucak clan were employed by the state as village guards in Siverek and Hilvan
. The area was the scene of kidnappings, disappearances and assassinations across the political spectrum in this period.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, in Şanlıurfa Province
Sanliurfa Province
Şanlıurfa Province or simply Urfa Province is a province in Southeast Anatolia, Turkey. The city of Şanlıurfa is the capital of the province which bears its name. The population is 1,663,371 ....
. Population 107,634 (town); 247,000 (district) (2000 census).
Siverek is in Şanlıurfa province but closer geographically to the large city of Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır is one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey...
(approx 83 km). In the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
period Siverek was within the province of Diyarbakır, and the people of Siverek are famously reluctant to accept being part of Şanlıurfa even today.
In the countryside the people are mostly ethnic Kurd. There is also a Turkmen
Turkmen people
The Turkmen are a Turkic people located primarily in the Central Asian states of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and northeastern Iran. They speak the Turkmen language, which is classified as a part of the Western Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages family together with Turkish, Azerbaijani, Qashqai,...
community in the village of Karacadağ and a small number of Arabs. The people are poor and live by working in the fields here and as share-croppers in the villages of neighbouring Diyarbakır. They are famously welcoming to visitors.
The town has little in the way of social amenities such as cafes, cinemas or parks but the ayran
Ayran
Ayran or laban is a cold beverage of yogurt mixed with cold water and sometimes salt; it is popular in many Central Asian, Middle Eastern and South-eastern European countries....
of Siverek is known for its quality.
Politics
In common with other districts of Şanlıurfa business and politics in Siverek are strongly influenced, even controlled, by a powerful clan. Siverek is the home town of Sedat BucakSedat Bucak
Sedat Edip Bucak is a Turkish politician, a chieftain of Zaza Bucak tribe. He was involved in the Susurluk scandal.He born in Siverek. His father is İsmail Hakkı. He leads the Bucak tribe in Siverek, Şanlıurfa Province...
, the former DYP member of parliament who survived the car crash in the Susurluk scandal
Susurluk scandal
The Susurluk scandal was a scandal involving the close relationship between the Turkish government, the armed forces, and organized crime. It took place during the peak of the Turkey–Kurdistan Workers' Party conflict, in the mid-1990s...
. He is the leader of the Bucak clan, one of whom has represented the area in the Turkish Parliament since its foundation. Sedat Bucak remains a friend of current DYP leader Mehmet Ağar
Mehmet Agar
Mehmet Kemal Ağar is a Turkish former police chief, politician, government minister and leader of the Democratic Party.-Early years:...
.
The Bucak clan are Zaza people who moved to Siverek from nearby Diyarbakır in the 1800s. They have always been loyal to the Turkish state, particularly during the Shaikh Said uprising in the 1920s. They were members of the party of Adnan Menderes
Adnan Menderes
Adnan Menderes was the first democratically elected Turkish Prime Minister between 1950–1960. He was one of the founders of the Democratic Party in 1946, the fourth legal opposition party of Turkey. He was hanged by the military junta after the 1960 coup d'état, along with two other cabinet...
' Demokrat Parti but survived the coup that deposed Menderes in 1960. The Bucak were also active in the struggle against the Kurdish separatist PKK. In the 1970s the Bucak family were targeted by the PKK and they continued to actively oppose the PKK all through the 1990s and beyond. During this period hundreds of members of the Bucak clan were employed by the state as village guards in Siverek and Hilvan
Hilvan
Hilvan is a district of Şanlıurfa Province of Turkey, 55 km from the city of Şanlıurfa. It has an area of 1.278 km². And a population of 38.411....
. The area was the scene of kidnappings, disappearances and assassinations across the political spectrum in this period.