Turkey: Dicle Bridge in Diyarbakır

Last Monday I got my first two postcards from Turkish Kurdistan.

Turkish Kurdistan is the part of Greater Kurdistan located in Turkey's Eastern Anatolia Region and Southeastern Anatolia Region where Kurds form the predominant ethnic group. In the area there has been a long-running separatist conflict which has cost 30000 lives.

One card shows the Dicle Bridge in Diyarbakır. Diyarbakır is located in the Fertile Crescent and has been an important centre since the Hellenistic period. Today it is one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey and the administrative capital of the Diyarbakır Province. It is also considered to be the unofficial capital of Turkish Kurdistan and as such it is a focal point for conflict between Turkey's government and Kurdish insurgent groups. The Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape is since 2015 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamps:
800th birthday of Haci Bektas Veli (two from set of four) (issued 12-08-2009)
Topkapi Palace (whole set) (issued 27-02-2014)

Thank You very much Helen!