Youth in terror-hit city want Roberto Carlos in town Şırnak is a small city in southeastern Turkey with a population of 60,000. The well-known mountains of Cudi and Gabar surround the city but also serve as the two most notorious symbols of terrorism due to the shelters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) that are located in their caves and the clashes that have taken place there over the years.

Cumhuriyet Park in the center of Şırnak is the perfect place to watch the breathtaking view of these mountains. Until recently the people of Şırnak sat in the park at night and watched the lights of machine guns fired from Cudi and Gabar. This was the most popular amusement for youngsters of Şırnak as they had nothing else to do. The city's first and only movie theater was opened just a few months ago.

The most recent music concert took place in 2002 when pop group Ayna came from İstanbul. “Şırnak has a very bad reputation, a reputation the city does not want. The news of terror and blood are highly exaggerated, leading people from other provinces to be prejudiced towards us. For example when we make friends on the Internet, we are ashamed to say that we’re from Şırnak, as most of the time they don’t want talk with us anymore. Indeed, we are proud of our hospitality and friendliness. We are loyal to our state and we are part of Turkey. Because of this, we voted for the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in the last election, just as the majority of the country did. We hope more people from the western cities will travel to Şırnak and get to know us better,” says Hacı Galip, a grocery store owner.

“Culture, sports and art do not go any further east than Ankara,” says Ekrem, who runs a mobile phone shop. Young people are thirsty for such events. They would like to watch the Fenerbahçe football team with its star Roberto Carlos playing in their city, Beşiktaş with Delgado and Galatasaray with Lincoln, but those top teams never travel to Turkey’s East as there has been no team left from that region that plays in the Turkish premiere league since Diyarbakır’s team dropped into the second league. Şırnak has its own football club, which plays in the third league and the young people of Şırnak are very eager to support it. “It would be wonderful if one of those big teams could come and play with Şırnak’s team at least for a friendly. It is also our right to see those football stars,” said Mehmet, a 21-year-old football fan.

What is even worst is that Turkey’s premiere league football matches are broadcast only by a coded digital television station. This means only those who can afford to subscribe to such stations can watch the games. “We have to go to tea houses to watch the matches. Young children below the age of 18 are not allowed in cafes where the games are shown. That means the youngsters of the region have nothing else to do,” complains a group of young men in a café, playing backgammon and card games every day to pass the time.

Abdullah, a 24-year-old unemployed man, suggests that digital TV companies should air the games for free as a gesture to the poor towns of the region so that they can enjoy watching the best teams of the country at home together with their families. But more than that, it would increase the motivation of people in the region who have suffered much from the long-lasting fight against terrorism and help them become more integrated with the western part of the country.

The people of Şırnak complain about the high rate of unemployment that makes the youngsters pessimistic and less hopeful for the future. But more than anything else, they value peace and tranquility. They are already fed up with clashes and hate that their city is associated with terror. The young people of Şırnak call on officials to send more cultural and sport activities instead of weapons and troops.