Residents protest against solar energy project in Diyadin

In the district of Diyadin in the province of Ağrı, residents protested against a solar energy project. The inhabitants of the village of Bazirgan (tr: Satıcılar) accuse those responsible of appropriating pasture and agricultural land for the project without their consent. In a public statement on Sunday, villagers emphasized that the affected area is communal grazing land that has formed the basis of agriculture and livestock farming for generations.

“Our land was used without our knowledge”

Villager Barış Tokmak stated that the facility was built without informing or obtaining consent from the local population. “This is our village’s communal grazing land. We have made our living from agriculture and animal husbandry for years. Yet solar panels were installed here without informing us or obtaining our consent,” he said.

Tokmak also stressed that the protest is not directed against renewable energy. “We are not against technology or solar energy. But such projects must not be implemented without the knowledge and consent of the people,” Tokmak added. He also pointed out the legal protection of grazing lands, which, according to the law, must not be repurposed. The villagers demand clarification on whether the measures are lawful and call for an immediate halt if violations are found.

Allegations of political backing

Another villager, Mehmet Salih Altındağ, stated that the project is being carried out with the support of local political actors. He also rejected claims that the land in question is infertile. “This is cultivated land. Grain is grown here. This can even be verified through satellite images,” he said. Altındağ questioned the notion of “public interest”: “If this project is meant to serve the public good, does that not also apply to agriculture and livestock?”

Call for intervention

Villagers called on the Ministry of Agriculture and the provincial council to intervene and protect the rights of the local population. They also announced that they will continue their protest and defend their land by all democratic means.

The conflict in Diyadin reflects a growing number of disputes in Kurdistan where energy and infrastructure projects are implemented at the expense of local livelihoods.