According to reports, several Ezidi families who left their village in the 1990s have begun returning from Europe to Mağara, a historic village in the İdil district of Şırnak province in Turkey.
The village, which had remained largely deserted for decades, is now being revived through the return of former residents and new infrastructure work carried out as part of Turkey’s “Return to the Village” project.
Mağara is known as one of the historic Ezidi villages in the region, with a history said to date back around 1,200 years. Many of its residents left during the violence and insecurity of the 1990s, later settling in European countries including Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Under the project, Turkish authorities contacted former villagers living abroad and encouraged them to return. Several families have now responded by moving back, while others have started building new homes in the village.
Local infrastructure has also been renewed. Roads, irrigation systems, sewage facilities, sewer lines and lighting have been installed or improved. A memorial monument has also been erected in the village to help preserve its historical and cultural identity.
One of the first returnees, Nusrettin Genç, had lived in Europe for 48 years before coming back to Mağara. He said the main practical problems in the village, including electricity and water, had now been addressed. According to him, five families have already returned permanently, while another five families are currently building houses.
More families are expected to return in the coming period, as the village becomes more suitable for permanent life again.
Mağara has also started attracting visitors because of its historical character and distinctive cave rooms carved into the mountain slopes. Local tourism officials say the village receives visitors during both weekdays and weekends, while visitors have described it as a place with strong tourism potential.
