Zeynep Turgut

 

VAN – Êzîdîs’ graves in Qopikan village of Van’s Çaldıran district are being destroyed by treasure hunters. The graves of women buried with their precious belongings are the most destroyed in the cemetery, which is a great memory for the Êzîdî people.

 

A cemetery belonging to the Êzîdîs, who lived in the 18th century, is in Qopikan Village of Van's Çaldıran district. The historic dungeon and the surrounding cemetery built by Kok Axa for his daughter Zarife in the 18th century were destroyed by treasure hunters. The Êzîdîs’ cemetery, which has survived until today, is now in danger of disappearing.

 

Women were buried with their precious belongings

 

The villagers state that the treasure hunters first determine the graves and then steal the precious objects after destroying the graves. In Êzîdîs’s tradition, the women were buried with their precious belongings like gold and silver. Under these circumstances, the treasure hunters destroy the graves they determined before and steal the precious objects in the graves.

 

Hundreds graves are destroyed

 

In the cemetery, hundreds of graves of women are destroyed and the bones of women are everywhere.

 

The villagers say they are uncomfortable with the situation and they demand the cemetery to be protected.