Kurtalan (Kurdish: Misircê,[1] Armenian: ԽԱՐԶԱՆ, romanized: Ğarzan or ՀԱՐԶԱՆ, Kharzan[2]) is a municipality in the Kurtalan District of Siirt Province in Turkey.[3] It was called Garzan until 1938 when it was renamed.[4] The municipality is populated by Kurds of the Pencenarî tribe and had a population of 36,273 in 2021.[5][6]
Kurtalan | |
|---|---|
  Kurtalan Location in Turkey | |
| Coordinates: 37°55′34″N 41°42′01″E / 37.92611°N 41.70028°E | |
| Country | Turkey |
| Province | Siirt |
| District | Kurtalan |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Baran Akgül (HDP) |
| Population (2021) | 36,273 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (TRT) |
| Website | kurtalan.bel.tr |
Demographics
According to Vital Cuinet, the kaza of Garzan had a population of 13,000 in 1891, including 8,800 Muslims, 3,600 Armenians, and others 600. Muslims were mostly Kurds. Syriac Catholic Church also lived in the area.[2] With the exception of a few dozen, all Armenians were massacred during the Armenian genocide. The fate of Syriacs is unknown.[2]
| Turkish | Arabic | Kurdish | Circassian | Armenian | Unknown or other languages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 585 | 736 | 12,739 | 3 | 0 | 90 |
| Muslim | Armenian | Jewish | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13,407 | 55 | 1 | 406 |
Government
In the local elections of 2019 Baran Akgül was elected as Mayor.[8]
Transport
In Kurtalan railway station is the eastern terminus of the Southern Kurtalan Express between Ankara and Kurtalan operated by TCDD Taşımacılık.[9]
Notable People
- Baran Akgül - Mayor and Politician[10]