 | The Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany has a special one about this country Travel and safety advice released (Web link). We strongly advise against traveling to the border area between Turkey and Syria and Iraq, especially to the cities of Diyarbakır, Cizre, Silopi, Idil (...) and Nusaybin as well as generally to the provinces of Mardin, Şırnak (...). Date of the last notification: 21/06/2019. |
Southeast Anatolia lies in the Turkey
Regions
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places
Other goals
background
Most of the south-east of Anatolia is inhabited by Kurds.
language
- Turkish
- Aramaic - is spoken of by a Christian minority who live in the area of today's Mardin.
- Kurdish
- Arabic
getting there
There are regular flights from Istanbul to Diyarbakir and Gaziantep
mobility
Tourist Attractions
activities
kitchen
nightlife
- Ataturk bar, right under the Ataturk Dam.
security
The paramilitary police are particularly in the border areas (Jandarma) seen frequently. Fixed checkpoints have been set up on all major thoroughfares, where people and vehicles can be checked. Even if a checkpoint is unoccupied, you should reduce your speed significantly. Tourists have nothing to fear as long as they have valid papers. In dealing with the Jandarma you should always behave respectfully and strictly follow the instructions.
They stand especially at night Jandarma under increased stress, as attacks can occur again and again. Vehicles that are parked in parking lots next to the open country road at night are considered suspicious and are frequently checked. One should remain calm even if one is surrounded by paramilitaries armed with assault rifles. Do not make hasty movements. Outside the vehicle, it is best to raise your hands; inside the vehicle, place your hands with your fingers outstretched on the steering wheel or on the shelf in front of the windshield. Then you wait until someone speaks to you and try to communicate. As soon as for the Jandarma it is clear that they are dealing with tourists, the nervousness noticeably decreases.
climate
Southeastern Anatolia has a steppe climate that brings cold and occasionally snowy winters and hot, dry summers that pose a risk of drought every year. Autumn and spring are mild and rains are only frequent during these times of the year.
respect
Comments about the PKK (banned Kurdistan Workers' Party), its founder Abdullah Öcalan (Apo) and the Kurdish problem should be avoided. General political issues, especially domestic political issues, of course, can contain undreamt-of potential for conflict. Although this region has been relatively peaceful for years, the political situation is still very tense.
A lot of sensitivity is required in connection with the term “Kurdistan”. Unless police officers, gendarmes or other official representatives are present, Kurds often welcome visitors to Kurdistan when they are greeted and expressly point out the difference to Turkey. Many Turks, on the other hand, tend to take the point of view that Kurdistan does not even exist.
Kurds generally appreciate it very much when one speaks of Kurdistan as a visitor or at least recognizes it. When dealing with Turks and authorities, one should avoid the term "Kurdistan" and rather say "Southeast Anatolia". The tolerance threshold is quite low in this regard, so that uncomfortable situations can easily arise.
