Born in Digor district of Kars in 1994, Devrim grew up in Istanbul where his family had moved for economic reasons. As one of the Kurdish youths who rose up for the Kobanê Serhildan (Uprising), he was arrested in late 2014. After his arrest, when it came out that he hadn't done his compulsory military service yet, he was sent to the barracks instead of prison. Following his novitiate service in Çanakkale, he was sent to Lice for the long-term service.

Devrim Digor, who deserted the army and joined the guerrilla ranks, spoke to ANF about his story, the approach towards Kurdish youths in the Turkish army and the circumstances surrounding them during the compulsory service.

Even though Digor's family did not want to leave their homeland, financial reasons forced them to move to Istanbul when he was still a child. To help his family make a living Devrim started very early to work at markets and then as a construction worker.

During the following years, he got to know the Kurdistan's freedom movement and joined the activities of the Kurdish patriotic youth. When ISIS attacked Kobanê in 2014 with the help of the Turkish state, Devrim also took part in the actions led by the Kurdish youth, resulting in his arrest and prison sentence which was replaced on the spot with his conscription. Following initial training in Çanakkale, he was sent to Amed's Lice district. The insults he faced in Çanakkale increased further while in Lice.

KURDISH YOUTHS STATIONED ON DEATH SPOTS

Aside from insults, threats and degradation, Devrim Digor drew attention to the deliberate games played on Kurdish youths: "Once, the guerrillas launched an action targeting an outpost in Lice. At the place we had been stationed there was a spot which was called the second watch tower. There nobody would be present except for two guards, who would always be Kurds. They intentionally positioned Kurdish youths for watch duty there, to put them directly into the guerrillas' target and thus make their families oppose the guerrillas.They would not trust any of the Kurdish youths in the service and they would always send them into the most dangerous missions, just to have them killed."

MURDERS COVERED UP AS SUICIDE

Digor explained that even speaking Kurdish was a reason to get beaten and insulted for the Kurdish youth in the Turkish army, saying that those who did not accept Turkishness being the "superior identity" would even face torture.

"There are many young Kurdish men who got recruited before they came to know the Turkish state's true face and learned it only there, which made it unbearable for them from then on. Many times there was talk of suicides committed by several Kurdish youths. There is no such a thing. Nobody just takes his own life.They kill either these young men with their own hands, or do not leave them any other option than suicide", he told.

MURDERED FOR POSTING DEMİRTAŞ'S PHOTO

Digor becomes a witness to one of such murders. His friend Serhat from Adıyaman, who like himself was well aware of his Kurdish identity and knew of the Turkish state's true colour, was incriminated of posting a photo of Selahattin Demirtaş on his social media account. Digor continued: "They did not leave it at accusations alone, but they called him a "terrorist" and killed him. After that they called his family and told them that he had committed suicide. Many other examples like this happened, all of which they covered up as suicides. But the truth is, they were murdered.

I DID NOT BELONG THERE

What was being done to us there was psychologically not bearable anymore. Doctors wrote a medical report prescribing me a change of climate. If I had remained some more time there, I would have either killed myself or would have been killed by them. I was suffering. I could no more endure the insults they put me through. I was now aware of the atrocities the Turkish state committed. Their generals openly saying "The best Kurd is the dead Kurd" was an expression of their great hatred and scorn. The military service proved to me that there was no way out other than joining the Kurdistan Freedom Struggle. I did not belong there, it was the wrong place for me.

DESERTION THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE END OF SERVICE

Three months before the end of the service, I was sent home for a change of climate prescribed by doctors. As soon as I reached home, I joined the guerrilla ranks from Istanbul. I am proud to be fighting in the ranks of struggle for my people's freedom.This is where I actually should have been since the very beginning.”

KURDISH YOUTH SHOULD NOT GO INTO THE SERVICE

Based upon his own experiences, Digor called on the Kurdish youths to go beyond the framework determined by the Turkish state and reject Turkish military service.