Cizre Castle walls defaced with spray paint, locals demand cleanup

Historic walls of Cizre Castle in Şırnak's Cizre district were vandalised with spray‑paint graffiti by unidentified individuals. The centuries‑old fort, which houses the Cizre Museum and attracts thousands of domestic and foreign tourists each year, suffered random names and markings that marred its aesthetic and cultural value.

Local resident Yusuf Üzen condemned the act as "cultural barbarism" and called for the graffiti to be removed promptly and for those responsible to be punished. He warned that the defacement harms the town's historic silhouette and could deter visitors. The incident has sparked widespread public outcry over the damage to the region's heritage and its impact on tourism.