Village Guards

In a dusty hamlet outside Ugrak, Mrs. Guculu, the wife of imprisoned village guards who allegedly killed returning villagers, insists the returnees shot themselves and burned their own car.
In a dusty hamlet outside Ugrak, Mrs. Guculu, the wife of imprisoned village guards who allegedly killed returning villagers, insists the returnees shot themselves and burned their own car.
Villagers return to Ugrak, eastern Turkey, even after three were shot and their car burned by local village guards who wanted to keep their lands.
Villagers return to Ugrak, eastern Turkey, even after three were shot and their car burned by local village guards who wanted to keep their lands.
The face of the founder of Turkey, Ataturk, stares down on the Kurds of Diyarbakir. Kurds in Turkey do have full language or cultural rights.
The face of the founder of Turkey, Ataturk, stares down on the Kurds of Diyarbakir. Kurds in Turkey do have full language or cultural rights.
Villagers from Ugrak, unable to return to their village, live in squalor in a quarter of Diyarbakir.
Villagers from Ugrak, unable to return to their village, live in squalor in a quarter of Diyarbakir.
The Turkish government armed about 60,000 village guards in Eastern Turkey, almost all Kurds, as defense against the PKK, but with the war over, the guards have little use for their weapons beyond protecting their flocks and many are refusing to allow villagers to return home.
The Turkish government armed about 60,000 village guards in Eastern Turkey, almost all Kurds, as defense against the PKK, but with the war over, the guards have little use for their weapons beyond protecting their flocks and many are refusing to allow villagers to return home.
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"Mehmet Kucuksoz" (right) and "Mehmet Ilbay" (left) were expelled from their village and their lands seized by village guards. He cannot return because of threats and government obstruction.
“Mehmet Kucuksoz” (right) and “Mehmet Ilbay” (left) were expelled from their village and their lands seized by village guards. He cannot return because of threats and government obstruction.
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The Turkish government armed about 60,000 village guards in Eastern Turkey, almost all Kurds, as defense against the PKK, but with the war over, the guards have little use for their weapons beyond protecting their flocks and many are refusing to allow villagers to return home.
The Turkish government armed about 60,000 village guards in Eastern Turkey, almost all Kurds, as defense against the PKK, but with the war over, the guards have little use for their weapons beyond protecting their flocks and many are refusing to allow villagers to return home.
Villagers from Ugrak, unable to return to their village, live in squalor in a quarter of Diyarbakir.
Villagers from Ugrak, unable to return to their village, live in squalor in a quarter of Diyarbakir.
Villagers return to Ugrak, eastern Turkey, even after three were shot and their car burned by local village guards who wanted to keep their lands.
Villagers return to Ugrak, eastern Turkey, even after three were shot and their car burned by local village guards who wanted to keep their lands.
Men catch the winter sun in the village of Yazçiçegi, in the Diyarbakir district, near the Mardin district. The villagers are still village guards.
Men catch the winter sun in the village of Yazçiçegi, in the Diyarbakir district, near the Mardin district. The villagers are still village guards.
At night, in many towns all over Turkey, the men sit and gamble and smoke in tea houses like this one in the eastern city of Diyarbakir.
At night, in many towns all over Turkey, the men sit and gamble and smoke in tea houses like this one in the eastern city of Diyarbakir.
A former village guard in Catal Koy, near Diyarbakir, in eastern Turkey, tells journalists of torture, kidnapping, and harrowing escapes as part of the government pressure to become village guards.
A former village guard in Catal Koy, near Diyarbakir, in eastern Turkey, tells journalists of torture, kidnapping, and harrowing escapes as part of the government pressure to become village guards.
Houses destroyed by the Turkish military in attempt to remove the PKK's powerbase. Even villagers who wish to return home may have no home left.
Houses destroyed by the Turkish military in attempt to remove the PKK’s powerbase. Even villagers who wish to return home may have no home left.
Sehmuz Kaya, a village guard, at the water pump, in his village outside Diyarbakir. The Turkish government armed about 60,000 village guards in Eastern Turkey, almost all Kurds, as defense against the PKK, but with the war over, the guards have little use for their weapons beyond protecting their flocks and many are refusing to allow villagers to return home.
Sehmuz Kaya, a village guard, at the water pump, in his village outside Diyarbakir. The Turkish government armed about 60,000 village guards in Eastern Turkey, almost all Kurds, as defense against the PKK, but with the war over, the guards have little use for their weapons beyond protecting their flocks and many are refusing to allow villagers to return home.