Lice

The district of Lice traces its roots all the way back to Mesopotamia and ancient Assyria, and its history is significantly diverse across multiple ethnic groups. Although originally having a mixed population of Armenians, Assyrians, and Kurds, its current population is mainly Kurds. Lice's modern history is defined by its role in the Kurdish-Turkish conflict, where in the village of Fîs the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was founded. This has caused significant tensions between the Turkish government and ethnic Kurds, and Lice has been the site of numerous human rights violations across both sides. The district is also known for its role in drug trafficking and organized crime, with the Baybaşin family originating from Lice.