A march was held in Dersim to protest the planned pumice mining project in the districts of Hozat and Pertek. Held under the slogan “We are defending our living spaces,” the march received strong support from numerous political parties and environmental organizations.

Protesters chanted slogans such as “Don’t touch my nature, my water, my land” and “Xozat, don’t sleep, defend your land.”

The project aims to operate across a 2,200-decare area encompassing the villages of Bargini, Zeve, Orcan, and Desiman in the districts of Hozat (Xozat) and Pertek (Pêrtag).

Mustafa Rüzgar, the village head of Bargini (Bargînî), speaking on behalf of the platform, stated that not only nature but also sacred sites of the Alevi faith in Dersim were under threat. He warned that places such as Sultan Hıdır, Ağuçan Religious House, and Derviş Cemal faced the risk of destruction.

Rüzgar stated that the mining license was granted in 2024, but villagers were only informed in 2025, accusing the company of deliberately concealing the process from the public.

He also criticized the company’s justification that “We will cut the trees and then reforest,” asking: “What will you restore after our living spaces, our sacred sites, and our historical memory have been destroyed?”

Lawyer Kenan Çetin recalled that the mining site includes Sekasor, which is not only a first-degree protected area but also a location of historical significance during the 1938 Dersim Massacre. He announced that a lawsuit had been filed at the Erzincan Administrative Court and that they would soon request a stay of execution.

Dersim MP Ayten Kordu stressed that the project is not only an attack on nature, but also on the culture and faith of the people of Dersim. She called for a stronger legal and organizational struggle.

Environmental organizations and political representatives demanded that the mining company abandon the project.