On assignment for The New York Times Magazine, <a href='http://pro.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL535GR6' target='_blank'>Moises Saman</a> traveled to the Kurdish region of southeast Turkey to cover the recent flare-up in Kurdish-Turkish relations.
Originating in the 1980s, the conflict boiled over during the 1990s when government forces raided and emptied Kurdish towns to counter the growth of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party). Tensions subsided when Recep Erdogan came to power, with him promoting development in Kurdish regions. The Syrian Civil War and specifically ISIS’ incursion into Syrian and Iraqi Kurdistan have disrupted progress and introduced new dynamics to the Turkish-Kurdish relationship.
Though considered a terror group by Turkey’s NATO ally, the United States, the PKK has been working closely with the latter in the fight against ISIS. Due to overwhelming media coverage of the PKK’s success against ISIS, the Kurdish cause has gained support around the world with some leaders urging the PKK’s removal from the terror list. This worldwide exposure combined with their 2015 victory at Kobani empowered Kurds in southeast Turkey with some declaring the establishment “liberated zones.” As a result, the Turkish government has been using military force against Kurdish cities, resulting in civilian casualties and the destruction of historic landmarks. Kurdish militants have responded to the attacks with suicide bombings in the capital, Ankara.
The campaign in the southeast has been hidden from the Turkish public - the government won’t allow journalists to report on the conflict (Saman had to avoid army and police forces during his assignment).

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