The highway between the center of Êlih (Batman) and Qûbîn (Beşiri) district is on the agenda with traffic accidents. On July 28, 4 members of the same family were killed when a light commercial vehicle hit them on the road, which is known as the "Road of Death" among residents of the city. On August 1, 8 people were injured, 1 of them seriously. 

 

A BUSY ROAD

 

The road connects Êlih to Sêrt (Siirt). In addition, Batman Type T Closed Prison, Organized Industrial Zone (OSB) and the touristic Kıra Mountain can be reached from this road. For this reason, it is a busy road for vehicles. 

 

Accidents frequently occur on this section, which citizens describe as the "Road of Death". The lack of any lighting, traffic signs, pedestrian paths or supervision on this section is one of the main causes of fatal accidents.  

 

The Special Provincial Administration of the Governorate sealed the wedding halls on the road after the recent accidents. However, no measures have yet been taken on the section that invites accidents. 

 

MINISTRY CLAIMED THAT 'MEASURES' HAD BEEN TAKEN

 

Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Êlih MP Zeynep Oduncu submitted a parliamentary question to Parliament on July 20, 2023, asking for measures to be taken on the road. In the response signed by the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, it was claimed that all measures had been taken on the road. However, accidents still occur on the road despite "all precautions".  

 

'TAKE MEASURES INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH KURDISH'

 

Oduncu emphasized that the government must fix the roads that cause fatal accidents instead of erasing Kurdish inscriptions on pedestrian crossings and said: "We constantly warned the authorities about the OSB road. We submitted a proposal, but no measures were taken. Although it is a heavily used road, no measures have been taken and accidents keep happening." 

 

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT 

 

Lawyers Yunus Bağış and Akif Akın, members of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), also filed a criminal complaint on August 2. They demanded an investigation against Batman Governorate, Batman Regional Directorate of Highways and Special Provincial Administration on charges of "abuse of office" and "negligently causing the death of more than one person and injuring more than one person".  

 

LAWYER AKIN: WE ARE WORRIED

 

Akif Akın, one of the lawyers, said that they face similar dangers due to their frequent visits to prisons. Akın said: "Recently, 4 people, including a baby, lost their lives. We also use this road all the time. We feel uneasy while using this road. The road is a busy road. Since it is an OSB, it is a road that constantly carries workers. There is not even lighting on this road. No precautions have been taken for the exits from the wedding hall at night. Human life is the cheapest thing in this country."

 

MA / Fethi Balaman