I read an article in a magazine about Diyarbakır, it's the place where my bf grew up before they moved to Ankara. He now lives in Izmir and i doubt if he has family in Diyarbakır. I was just interested in the place that he came from and i read this article. I would REALLY like to see this city. I know about the poverty, but it also looks like a place where poverty and wealth, pleasure and grief, modern and tradition, old and new meet. I also read about the place Bismil with their special plate, that sounded extremely delicious.

I would just like to see more of Turkey than the western and tourist areas.

Kadir told me it's not such a good idea to go to Diyarbakır now. Can someone explain to me why? (he is busy with exams so i don't wanna bother him ). Except for the birdflu, tho i don't know whether it's there.

well, its absolutely politics and terrorism that kadir fears i guess... like the municipality president of Diyarbakir constructed graveyard for dead PKK terrorists...

does Kadir's father works in army or police station?

Its very nice to see that somebody has actually awknowledged a place in Turkey that isnt a holiday resort! It makes a very nice change. I lived in Diyarbakır for 3 years, and generally I liked it. Its a very big, modern city, with shopping centres, restaurants etc, theres even a bowling alley. I dont think theres any reason why you shouldnt visit Diyarbakır, aslong as you dont go roaming about in the mountains in the remote villages then I think you would be pretty safe.

As for Bismil, I cant believe someone has heard of the place! its a tiny little town and very very traditional and undeveloped - my friends call it 'Pismil'.

I don't think its terrorism. I have lived there many years and the city is a safe place. But you must not go too far away from the center. The problem is that its not a good place for young girls. Not very good especially for European young girls.

Male-female relationships in this area are still a taboo. The city is strictly a conservative place but not in religious terms. It's conservarite in terms of traditions.
It could be OK if you take care a little on your wearings and other things when outside.

i was in Sirnak between the years 94-96... and we were travelling to Mardin, Diyarbakir and Batman usually.. terrorism is always a threat in those parts... as my father was an officers i was very in these things with my being curious, the terrorists threats on walkie talkies and skirmishes - i have seen one big... really its always there...
an chef officer gaffar okan was murdered recently there and the attitudes of the local municipality presidents towards terrorism has the security atmosphere tensioned there.. and at least the nonsense Kurt-Turk thing...

yeah Diyarbakir nice place was hometown for many cultures and old civilizations... mardin is more atractive if you ask me... you should see actually... but Kadir's Deli Kızın's bf fear can be coz of that if you ask me...
but you know anything can happen in this weird lifetime...

Here is some info from Wikipedia on the city.

Diyarbakır

I wouldn't say thet terrorism there is a problem. I suppose your boyfriend afraids of your reactionmaybe, because yes, Diyarbakır is a big city, but everywhere around you can see real poverty. maybe he worries about the people's reactions, because the more eastern part of Turkey, the more religious. I remember that everyone was looking at me everywhere, whatever I was wearing ( believe me, it wasn't short skirt and top but generally jeans adt t-shirt) it was funny for the first week, a little bit irritating for the second, but after that I was mad and I could kill anyone who was staring at me. And Diyarbakır is more religious than Malatya...

yeah more than terrosim its that.. even i am a male i was having that eyes on me when i was wearing a short to go to school in that hot weather.. and attacks from villager to when we cycle down to river... i had dealed with a street child team too lol i always laugh when i remember those days.. but thanks god i lived them..

Its true that if you are a foreigner they will stare at you, and there are alot of religious people living in the city. This is mainly because thousands of villagers have had to flee their villages because of terrorism, or have either moved to the city in search of better prospects. When villagers move to an urban area, they bring their customs with them and find it hard to adjust to city life, so when you walk down the street and find people are staring at you, these people are usually immigrants from the nearby villages, and arent used to seeing young girls in modern clothing. Alot of the villagers are illeterate, and something like 60% of women in Diyarbakır cant read or write, its very difficult for people who have seen no education to understand city life, hence the continuous staring. However, on the other hand, Diyarbakır has a large university, and theres alot of young, modern, open minded people. Education makes a vast difference, and ive seen Turkish girls in Diyarbakır dressed more eye catching than any tourist would dare to be. Diyarbakır is a hugely contradictive city, every aspect of it is contradictory, one minute you find yourself in a modern shopping centre or fast food restaurant, the next your down some narrow street full of women hiding themselves under blacksheets. Its a shame that so many villagers have had to rellocate to the city, by doing so they are causing the city to move backwards rather than forwards, some people say that Diyarbakır was more free in the eighties than it is today. Their migration to the city also creates a huge demand for housing, and as a result it causes ugly buildings to spring up all over the city - the millitary airport which was once on the outskirts of the city is now more or less in the city centre, and the population is well over 1,000,000 - and thats just the official figure, iam sure unofficially its much more. Ive heard alot of people say they have a love/hate relationship with the city, in my opinion the contradictiveness of the city is its main appeal.

Hi Deli Kizin,
I am actually a "young Europian girl", and had also spent some time in Diyarbakir. All in all, I have to say there is nothing you should be affraid of. The eyes on you ... sure, to be honest it was not different in Istanbul or Ankara either. What is more, in Istanbul they usally like express their opinion in words too. You know what I mean. In Diyarbakir, as far as I am concerned they keep the distance, which I liked much more. There are certain times of the year when the city is likely to be a mess. eg. bayram, newroz. Avoid these periods. If you have some local friends who are willing to take you a tour, you will have a fabulous holiday. Don't miss Hasankeyf!