View source for Batman, Turkey

{{Redirect|Batman City|the fictional city where Batman resides|Gotham City|other uses|Batman (disambiguation)}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox Turkey place
| map_caption                     = Location of Batman, Turkey within Turkey
|type=Municipality|name=Batman| image_skyline                   =  Batmanê-3.jpg
| other_name = 
| province             = Batman
| district             = Batman
| population_footnotes            =
| population_total=452157
| population_as_of                = 2021
| coordinates                     = {{Coord|37.887|41.132|display=inline,title}}
| leader_title                    = Elected Mayor
| leader_name                     = [[Gülistan Sönük]] ([[Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party|DEM Party]]) (elect-mayor) (deposed)<br>[[:tr:Ekrem Canalp|Ekrem Canalp]] (trustee)
| leader_party                    =
| website                         = {{url|http://www.batman.bel.tr}}
}}
'''Batman''' ({{langx|ku-Latn|Êlih}};{{sfnp|Avcıkıran|2009|p=56}} {{langx|syr|Elīḥā}}){{sfnp|Bcheiry|2009|p=42}}{{efn|Also known as İluh, Eulaha, Eloun, Eléh, Elun, and Eleh.{{sfnmp|1a1=Jongerden|1a2=Verheij|1y=2012|1p=318|Kévorkian|2006|2p=269}}}} is a city and capital of [[Batman District]] in [[Batman Province]], [[Turkey]]. It lies on a plateau, {{convert|540|m|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} above sea level, near the confluence of the [[Batman River]] and the [[Tigris]] and had a population of 452,157 in 2021.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=31 ARALIK 2021 TARİHLİ ADRESE DAYALI NÜFUS KAYIT SİSTEMİ (ADNKS) SONUÇLARI |url=https://www.tuik.gov.tr/indir/duyuru/favori_raporlar.xlsx |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=TÜİK |language=tr |format=XLS}}</ref> It is populated by [[Kurds]] and considered to be part of [[Turkish Kurdistan]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Dündar |first=Fuat |title=Türkiye nüfus sayımlarında azınlıklar |date=2000 |publisher=Civiyazilari |isbn=9789758086771 |edition=2. baskı |location=[Beyoğlu, İstanbul] |oclc=50388124}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite book |last=Repetowicz |first=Witold |title=KURDS IN TURKEY |publisher=COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION UNIT and EUROPEAN UNION Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund |year=2019}}</ref>

The [[Batı Raman oil field]], which is the largest oil field in Turkey, is located just outside the city. Batman has a local airport and a military airbase, which was used for transit of aircraft and helicopters in some search and rescue operations during the [[Gulf War]].

Until the 1950s, Batman was a village, with a population of about 3,000. However, oil fields were discovered around it in the 1940s that resulted in a rapid development of the area and in the inflow of workforce from other parts of Turkey. In 1957, the village was renamed Batman, after the river namesake, received a city status and became a district center. Over the next 50 years, a significant amount of Batman's one-story buildings were rebuilt as multi-story buildings. As a result, its population grew to many times its previous size. A {{convert|511|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} km long oil pipeline was built in 1967 from Batman to the port city of [[Dörtyol]] near the easternmost point of the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] coast in order to transport the crude oil from the [[Tüpraş Batman Oil Refinery|Batman refinery]]. In 1990, the city became the capital of Batman Province.

Apart from oil, which is by far the dominant commodity of the region, Batman produces beverages, processed food, chemicals, furniture, footwear, machinery and transport equipment. A university was established in 2007, [[Batman University]], and is part of the [[Erasmus Programme|Erasmus foreign student exchange program]].

==History==
[[File:Batman Saat Kulesi1.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Batman clock tower]]
Elīḥā (today called Batman) was historically inhabited by [[Syriac Orthodox Church|Syriac Orthodox Christians]] and [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]]-speaking [[Armenians]].{{sfnmp|1a1=Jongerden|1a2=Verheij|1y=2012|1p=318|Kévorkian|2011|2p=367|Bcheiry|2009|3p=42}} In the Syriac Orthodox patriarchal register of dues of 1870, it was recorded that the village had 1 household, who paid 10 dues, and did not have a church or a priest.{{sfnp|Bcheiry|2009|p=42}} There were 15 Armenian [[hearth]]s in 1880.{{sfnp|Kévorkian|2006|p=269}} There was an Armenian church of Surb Astvatsatsin.{{sfnp|Kévorkian|2006|p=269}} It is tentatively identified with the village of Yliga, which was populated by 100 [[Assyrian people|Syriacs]] in 1914, according to the list presented to the [[Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920)|Paris Peace Conference]] by the Assyro-Chaldean delegation.{{sfnmp|1a1=Jongerden|1a2=Verheij|1y=2012|1p=318|Gaunt|2006|2p=427}} It was located in the ''[[kaza]]'' (district) of [[Beşiri]].{{sfnp|Gaunt|2006|p=427}} The Armenians were attacked by the Belek, Bekran, Şegro, and other Kurdish tribes in May 1915 amidst the [[Armenian genocide]].{{sfnp|Kévorkian|2011|pp=367–368}}

The locality was made the capital of a district in the [[Siirt Province]] in 1957,<ref name="r1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110310074232/http://www.gap.gov.tr/gap-provinces/batman Batman], gap.gov.tr</ref> and as the Batman province was founded in May 1990, also its capital.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Deichmann|first=Somik V. Lall, Souleymane Coulibaly, Uwe|title=Urbanization and Productivity: Evidence from Turkish Provinces over the Period|date=2007|publisher=World Bank Publications|pages=7|language=en}}</ref> The city was connected with [[Istanbul]] in 1944 by a railway line. This was the major transportation route until the 1950s when highways gradually became more important. Until the 1950s, Batman was a village of some 3,000 people;<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101010142640/http://www.batmanpostasigazetesi.com/yazi/altin-mikrofon-40-yil-aradan-sonra-batmanda-3422.htm ALTIN MİKROFON 40 YIL ARADAN SONRA BATMANDA]. Batmanpostasigazetesi.com. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2011.</ref> it was called Iluh and belonged to the [[Siirt Province]]. It was first located in the Elmedin district of Siirt. The entire district disappeared in the early 1926 due to the flood of the Batman River. After that, Iluh became part of Beşiri sub-province.<ref>[[#Balaban|Balaban]], 152</ref> On 2 September 1957, the village became a district center and renamed Batman after the river flowing nearby, which was known under its modern name since at least the 19th century.<ref>{{cite book|title=Two essays on the geography of ancient Asia: intended partly to illustrate the campaigns of Alexander, and the Anabasis of Xenophon|url=https://archive.org/details/twoessaysongeog01willgoog|year=1829|publisher=J. Murray|pages=[https://archive.org/details/twoessaysongeog01willgoog/page/n277 262]–}}</ref> On 16 May 1990, it was designated the capital of the Batman Province.<ref name="g3">[https://web.archive.org/web/20111223064222/http://www.kultur.gov.tr/TR/belge/1-33025/tarihce.html Batman. Tarihçe], kultur.gov.tr, 21 February 2007 (in Turkish)</ref>

This administrative evolution reflected the rapid growth of the city owing to its oil extraction and refinement industries. Oil was found in the region in the 1930s and the oldest in Turkey refinery was built in 1955 to process crude oil of the Raman and Garzan areas. The refinery is operated by [[Tüpraş]], it has a processing capacity of 1.1 million tonnes per year and storage capacity of 253 billion m<sup>3</sup> (330,000 million cubic yards).<ref name="r1"/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160614234809/http://www.tupras.com.tr/detailpage.en.php?lPageID=1831 About Tüpraş refineries]. tupras.com.tr</ref><ref name="g1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20111223070809/http://www.kultur.gov.tr/TR/belge/1-33019/genel-bilgiler.html Batman. Genel Bilgiler], kultur.gov.tr, 18 June 2008 (in Turkish)</ref>

Development of the oil fields outside the city resulted in a rapid growth of Batman beginning in the 1950s. As a result, the city was declared a "Priority Region for Development". A high school was established in the city in 1975 and most one-story houses were rebuilt into multi-story buildings. However, the large inflow of labor for the oil industry resulted in construction of hundreds of unauthorized small buildings on the outskirts of the city. Because of the wind direction, most industrial complexes were located in the southern and south-eastern areas.<ref name="b155">[[#Balaban|Balaban]], 155</ref>

=== Kurdish–Turkish conflict ===

==== 1990s ====
The oil-related development of Batman also resulted in relocation of ethnic [[Turkish people|Turks]] into the mostly Kurdish-populated Batman Province. This led to [[Kurdish rebellions in Turkey|ethnic conflicts]] that escalated in the 1990s. More than 180 civilians were killed in the Batman city area by unidentified gunmen between 1992 and 1993.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Jonathan Rugman|author2=Roger Hutchings|title=Ataturk's Children|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GTtz79KJwV8C&pg=PA55|year= 2001|publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8264-5490-4|pages=55–}}</ref>

==== 21st century ====
In June 2000, the then-Mayor Abdullah Akın attempted to rename up to 200 streets, and give them names of events from [[History of the Kurds|Kurdish history]] or of people who supported [[Kurdish culture]]. A Turkish court prohibited the renaming of some streets, but a few other names were allowed to be passed.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Watts|first=Nicole F.|title=Activists in Office: Kurdish Politics and Protest in Turkey|date=1 July 2011|publisher=University of Washington Press|isbn=978-0-295-80082-0|pages=154|language=en}}</ref> In 2010, the city was the location for the first [[Kurdish cinema|Kurdish film]] festival in Turkey.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Koçer |first=Suncem |date=2014 |title=Kurdish cinema as a transnational discourse genre: Cinematic visibility, cultural resilience and political agency |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43303181 |journal=International Journal of Middle East Studies |volume=46 |issue=3 |pages=474, 484 |doi=10.1017/S0020743814000555 |jstor=43303181 |s2cid=145602322 |issn=0020-7438 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> In the opening ceremony a letter of the [[List of arrested mayors in Turkey|imprisoned mayor Nejdet Atalay]] was read out in the Kurdish language, highlighting the struggles the Kurds have to go through in Turkey, which does not recognize the Kurdish language.<ref name=":1" />

==== 2014–2015 ====
[[File:Batman Kurdish youth riots 2024.png|thumb|Kurdish youth riots in Batman (Êlih), November 2024.]]
During the [[2014 Kobanî protests]], which were part of the broader [[Timeline of the Kurdistan Workers' Party insurgency (2015–2025)|third phase]] of the [[Kurdish–Turkish conflict]], local Kurdish youth affiliated with the [[YDG-H]] organized popular protests and riots in the city of Batman.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 April 2015 |title=YDG-H ÜYESİ OLDUKLARI İDDİA EDİLEN 10 KİŞİDEN 5&#39;İ TUTUKLANDI |url=https://www.batmanexpress.com/haber/ydg-h-uyesi-olduklari-iddia-edilen-10-kisiden-5i-tutuklandi-465.html |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=Batman Express Gazetesi |language=tr}}</ref> This led to the arrest of several individuals, including children,<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 April 2015 |title=Batman'da YDG-H militanları gözaltına alındı |url=https://www.yeniasya.com.tr/gundem/batman-da-ydg-h-militanlari-gozaltina-alindi_331540 |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=YENİ ASYA}}</ref> accused of "spreading [[Kurdistan Workers' Party|PKK]] propaganda."<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 September 2015 |title=Batman'da terör örgütü operasyonu |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/turkiye/batmanda-teror-orgutu-operasyonu/11110 |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=Anadolu Ajansı}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=3 August 2015 |title=Batman’da YDG-H operasyonu |url=https://www.rudaw.net/turkish/kurdistan/0308201513 |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=Rudaw}}</ref> Furthermore, according to [[Amnesty International]], several killings occurred during clashes between Kurdish youth affiliated with the YDG-H on one side, and [[General Directorate of Security (Turkey)|Turkish police]] and members of the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] [[Islamism|Islamist]] [[Free Cause Party|Hüda Par]] on the other.<ref>{{Cite journal |year=2015 |title=KOBANI PROTESTS IN TURKEY HUMAN RIGHTS FAILURES |url=https://www.amnesty.ch/de/laender/europa-zentralasien/tuerkei/dok/2015/tuerkei-syrien-amnesty-bericht-ueber-kobane-proteste-im-oktober-2014/bericht-kobani-protests-in-turkey-human-rights-failures |journal=Amnesty International |pages=5}}</ref>

In November 2024, following the replacement of pro-Kurdish [[Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party|Peoples’ Equality and Democracy]] (DEM) Party mayors with government-appointed trustees in Batman and several other Kurdish-majority towns, protests and riots erupted in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-04-11 |title=Turkish police brutally attack protests against trustee mayors |url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/turkish-police-brutally-attack-protests-against-trustee-mayors-news-65205 |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=Duvar English |language=}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Butler |first=Daren |date=4 November 2024 |title=Turkey unseats Kurdish mayors in crackdown after peace proposal |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-replaces-pro-kurdish-mayors-with-state-officials-southeast-2024-11-04/ |access-date=18 October 2025 |website=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfJN5bGNME8 |title=ÊLİH’TEKİ GENÇLERİN DİRENİŞİ 4’ÜNCÜ GÜNÜNDE |date=2024-11-07 |last=Mezopotamya Ajansı |access-date=2025-10-18 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

==Government==
In the local elections in December 1977, a candidate who openly supported Kurdish rights,<ref>Nicole F. Watts, (2011), p. 46</ref> Edip Sönmez, won the elections.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Yilmaz|first=Özcan|title=La formation de la nation kurde en Turquie|date=26 November 2015|publisher=Graduate Institute Publications|isbn=978-2-940549-28-3|pages=130|language=fr}}</ref> He was murdered in 1979.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Orhan|first=Mehmet|title=Political Violence and Kurds in Turkey: Fragmentations, Mobilizations, Participations & Repertoires|date=16 October 2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-42044-6|pages=15|language=en}}</ref> The Kurdish Mayors Abdullah Akın (1999–2002),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kurdish mayors' arrests in Turkey impact services, narrows room for dialogue: KCK|url=https://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/6/turkey4003.htm|access-date=23 March 2020|website=ekurd.net}}</ref> [[Hüseyin Kalkan]] (2002–2009)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Turkey frees 10 Kurdish politicians including six ex-mayors in mass KCK trial|url=https://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2013/2/turkey4534.htm|access-date=23 March 2020|website=ekurd.net}}</ref> and [[Nejdet Atalay]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=All Defendants Released in KCK Main Case|url=https://m.bianet.org/bianet/human-rights/157147-all-defendants-released-in-kck-main-case|access-date=23 March 2020|website=Bianet}}</ref> have all faced prosecutions and were in prison. The former mayor of Batman Nejdet Atalay, was a member of the [[Democratic Society Party]] (DTP) until the [[Constitutional Court of Turkey]] [[Democratic Society Party closure case|banned that party]] on 11 December 2009 for alleged ties to the [[Kurdistan Workers' Party]]. This decision banned him and 35 other members of the now-disbanded political party from joining any political party for five years.<ref>Selcan Hacaoglu (11 December 2009) [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,580036,00.html Turkey Bans Pro-Kurdish Party Over Ties to Rebels] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217165719/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,580036,00.html|date=17 December 2009}}, Associated Press.</ref> In 2014 Sabri Özdemir won the elections.<ref>{{Cite web|title=30 Mart 2014 Batman Yerel Seçim Sonuçları|url=https://www.yenisafak.com/yerel-secim-2014/batman-ili-secim-sonuclari|access-date=23 March 2020|website=Yeni Safak}}</ref> But he was suspended as mayor in October 2015 for "Self governance" remarks<ref>{{Cite web|title=HDP's arrested district mayor in eastern Turkey removed over 'self-governance' remarks - Turkey News|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/hdps-arrested-district-mayor-in-eastern-turkey-removed-over-self-governance-remarks--90498|access-date=23 March 2020|website=Hürriyet Daily News|date=29 October 2015 |language=en}}</ref> and later dismissed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Kurdish Institute of Paris - kurde, kurdish, kurd kurdisch kurda curda curdo, kurdistan curdistan|url=https://www.institutkurde.org/en/info/infographics/mayors/|access-date=23 March 2020|website=Institutkurde.org|language=en}}</ref>

In the [[2019 Turkish local elections|local elections of March 2019]], Mehmet Demir was elected Mayor of Batman,<ref>{{Cite web|title=31 Mart 2019 Batman Yerel Seçim Sonuçları|url=https://www.yenisafak.com/yerel-secim-2019/batman-ili-secim-sonuclari|access-date=23 March 2020|website=Yeni Safak}}</ref> but on 23 February 2020, he was dismissed and a trustee was appointed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Turkey dismisses four more pro-Kurdish party mayors in east|url=https://ahvalnews.com/dismissed-hdp-mayors/turkey-dismisses-four-more-pro-kurdish-party-mayors-east|access-date=23 March 2020|website=Ahval|language=en}}</ref> The kaymakam is Osman Bilici.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kaymakam Osman Bilici|url=http://www.batman.gov.tr/kaymakam-osman-bilici|access-date=23 March 2020|website=www.batman.gov.tr}}</ref>

On 4 November, mayors from the pro-Kurdish [[Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party|DEM Party]] in the cities of Batman, [[Mardin]] and [[Halfeti]] were replaced with government-appointed administrators.<ref name=":2" />

==Demography==
According to the national census data collected between 1990 and 2000, the population of Batman is growing at a rate of 5% per year.<ref>[http://www.turkstat.gov.tr/PreIstatistikTablo.do?istab_id=220 The Characteristics Of The Population By Provinces, 2000 Population Census. City and Village Population, Annual Growth Rate of Population, Surface Area and Population Density By Districts]. turkstat.gov.tr</ref> By 2008, it reached a population of 298,342, with a male to female ratio of 1.015.<ref>[http://report.tuik.gov.tr/reports/rwservlet?adnksdb2=&report=idari_yapi_2008.RDF&p_il1=72&p_yil=2008&desformat=html&ENVID=adnksdb2Env Turkish Institute of Statistics. 2008 data]{{dead link|date=October 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> According to the 2000 census, about 50% of population is married<ref>[http://www.turkstat.gov.tr/PreIstatistikTablo.do?istab_id=226 The Characteristics Of The Population By Provinces, 2000 Population Census. Population By Marital Status and Sex], turkstat.gov.tr</ref> and has about 5 children per family. About 5 people are living together in one house as family.<ref name="b156">[[#Balaban|Balaban]], 156</ref> The unemployment rate is about 20% for males and 10% for females.<ref>[http://www.turkstat.gov.tr/PreIstatistikTablo.do?istab_id=233 The Characteristics Of The Population By Provinces, 2000 Population Census. Population By Labor Force and Sex]. turkstat.gov.tr (XLS file).</ref> Kurdish is the main first-language in the city.<ref name=":0" />

==Industry==
Batman's primary commodity is oil, as there are multiple oil fields in the nearby area. These oil fields have spurred the creation of multiple pipelines to transmit oil to and from several important cities. Apart from oil, which is by far the dominant commodity of the region, Batman produces beverages, processed food, chemicals, furniture, footwear, machinery and transport equipment.<ref name="brit">[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/56041/Batman Batman], Encyclopædia Britannica</ref>

=== Oil fields ===
Search for oil in the Batman Province started in 1935. On 20 April 1940, oil was found at a depth of {{convert|1048|m|abbr=off}} at the [[Raman oil field]], located south-east of Batman. The first experimental well began producing 10 tonnes (about {{convert|62|oilbbl|m3}}) of oil per day on 6 June 1940. The field was set to be expanded for commercial production by 1945, but the production was delayed to 1947 due to the lack of storage. To solve this, a small refinery was built at the site with a capacity of 9 tonnes/day in 1947, and in November 1948 a bigger refinery capable of processing up to 200 tonnes/day was completed in Batman. An even bigger refinery (330 tonnes/d) was completed in Batman in 1955.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111223061413/http://www.tpao.gov.tr/spe/history.htm History of petroleum], tpao.gov.tr</ref> Several other oil fields were discovered later around Batman, the largest being [[Batı Raman oil field]], which produces about {{convert|7000|oilbbl|m3}} of oil daily.<ref name="oil">{{cite journal|title=Upper cretaceous carbonate reservoirs of the Raman Field, Southeast Turkey|doi=10.1007/BF03174401|author=Gengiz Keskin and Cengiz Can|journal= Carbonates and Evaporites|year=1986|volume=1|issue=1|page=25|bibcode=1986CarEv...1...25K |s2cid=129219634}}</ref>

===Pipelines===
A {{convert|511|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} km long oil pipeline was built in 1967 from Batman to [[Dörtyol]], a port city located near the easternmost point of the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] coast, to transport the crude oil from the Batman region. The pipeline has an annual capacity of 3.5 million tonnes and was transporting about {{convert|20|Moilbbl|m3}} (about 2.7 million tonnes) in the 1990s and about twice less between 2003 and 2007. Another, short pipeline {{convert|41|km|abbr=off}} long connected Batman with Şelmo, which is the location of the second largest oil field in Turkey.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110302090923/http://www.transatlanticpetroleum.com/s/Turkey.asp Turkey], TransAtlantic Petroleum</ref> It transferred between 1.5 and {{convert|0.5|Moilbbl|m3}} of oil per year between the years of 1990 and 2007. Both pipelines are operated by [[BOTAŞ]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.botas.gov.tr/index.asp|title = Batman-Dörtyol Petrol Boru Hattı (Turkish)|publisher = BOTAŞ|access-date = 12 February 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110827162929/http://www.botas.gov.tr/index.asp|archive-date = 27 August 2011|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=International Transport Forum|author2=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|title=Intermodal transport: National peer review: Turkey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q_vusRsNdtQC&pg=PA94|year= 2009|publisher=International Transport Forum|isbn=978-92-821-0222-0|pages=87, 94}}</ref>

==Culture==
=== Education ===
According to the census of 2000, 15% males and 43% females of Batman were categorized as illiterate. Within the literate part, about 33% males and 29% females have not finished secondary school, 3.3% males and 0.9% females had university education, and about 13% males and 3.8% females had completed a high-school or an equivalent program.<ref>[http://www.turkstat.gov.tr/PreIstatistikTablo.do?istab_id=225 The Characteristics Of The Population By Provinces, 2000 Population Census. Population By Literacy, Education Level and Sex], turkstat.gov.tr</ref> There are 71 elementary and 12 high schools in Batman.

==== Batman University ====
The city also has a university, [[Batman University]], which was founded on 27 May 2007. It employs about 140 staff members and has the faculties of Science and Letters, Technical Education, and Engineering, which mostly cover topics about engineering, business, and administration. About 2,500 students, who come from different parts of Turkey, study at the university. The university is part of the [[Erasmus Programme|Erasmus foreign student exchange program]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120306135239/http://www.ua.gov.tr/uploads/erasmus/studying_in_Turkey.pdf Studying in Turkey for Erasmus 2010–2011], The Centre for UE Education and Youth Programmes, September 2010</ref>

===Sport===
[[Association football]] is the most popular sport in Batman. The city has a professional football club, [[Batman Petrolspor]], which was formed in 1960 and plays in the third division [[TFF Third League]]. The club was named after the petroleum industry of the city. Another local football team, [[Batman Belediyespor|72 Batmanspor]], participates in the Amateur League. There is a football stadium in Batman, which has a [[seating capacity]] of 4,900 spectators.<ref name="tff">[http://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?pageID=395&kulupId=34 BATMAN PETROLSPOR] tff.org {{in lang|tr}}. Retrieved 25 June 2010.</ref>

Another popular sport is [[wrestling]]. [[freestyle wrestling|Freestyle wrestlers]] from Batman have won national competitions, and Ali Riza Alan won gold in 1970 and silver in 1974 in world championships in the weight category under {{convert|52|kg|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="tarihce">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120308142533/http://www.batmanpetrolsk.org/bb/index.php?q=node%2F3 Tarihçe]. batmanpetrolsk.org {{in lang|tr}}. Retrieved 25 June 2010.</ref> The major sport venue of Batman, Atatürk Sports Hall, can accommodate 1,000 spectators and supports many athletics, such as [[badminton]], [[basketball]], [[gymnastics]], wrestling, [[folk dance]], [[handball]], [[martial arts]] (such as [[kurash]], [[judo]], [[aikido]], [[Wushu (sport)|wushu]], [[karate]] and [[taekwondo]]), [[table tennis]], [[volleyball]] and [[Swimming (sport)|swimming]].<ref>[http://www.kultur.gov.tr/TR/belge/1-60678/il-spor-profili---sportif-faaliyetler.html Batman. İl Spor Profili – Sportif Faaliyetler], kultur.gov.tr, 21 February 2007</ref>

==Transportation==
[[File:Batman Airport.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Batman Airport]]
Batman is connected by highways and railway with the nearby cities of [[Diyarbakır]] and [[Kurtalan]] and with the capital Ankara. The distance (using highways) to Istanbul is {{convert|1465|km|0|abbr=on}}, to Ankara {{convert|1012|km|0|abbr=on}}, and to İzmir {{convert|1520|km|0|abbr=on}}. There is also a regional [[Batman Airport|airport]] outside of Batman at {{coord|37.929481|N|41.118021|E}}, which provides direct flights to İzmir, Ankara and Istanbul.<ref name="brit" /><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111223063741/http://www.kultur.gov.tr/TR/belge/1-33020/nasil-gidilir.html Batman. Nasıl Gidilir?], kultur.gov.tr, 19 February 2007</ref> The airport is combined with the military Batman Air Base. The base was renovated after the US-Turkey agreement in 1982 to make the base available for US tactical aircraft acting within [[NATO]] forces. This allowed them to patrol the region of Caucasus, Turkey and Iran without refueling.<ref>{{cite book|author=Federal Research Division|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzzYk_gzpJ0C&pg=PA358|title=Turkey: A Country Study|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|year=2004|isbn=978-1-4191-9126-8|pages=358–}}</ref> The base was then used for aid delivery and rescue missions in Iraq during the 1991 [[Gulf War]].<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/batman.htm Batman Air Base, Turkey]. globalsecurity.org</ref><ref>Darrel D. Whitcomb (2006) [https://web.archive.org/web/20110928085514/http://aupress.au.af.mil/digital/pdf/book/Whitcomb_Combat_Search_And_Rescue.pdf Combat Search and Rescue in Desert Storm], Air University Press, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama</ref>

==Geography==
Batman is built on a flat plateau elevated at {{convert|540|m|0|abbr=on}} above the sea level, though there is a declining slope of up to 0.6° in the northeastern and southern areas.<ref>[[#Balaban|Balaban]], 157</ref> There are almost no forests in and around the city. The Iluh River, a tributary of the Batman River, flows through the city. The soil mostly consists of soft and porous clay; it is unstable and is easily eroded with rain and floods of the Batman and Iluh rivers. The floods usually occur between March and May, although they sometimes occur between October and November. Major floods occurred in 1969 (April, 60 buildings damaged), 1972 (April and May, 210 buildings damaged), 1991 (November, 500 buildings flooded), 1995 (March, nearly 1000 buildings submerged and 450 damaged) and 2006 (October, 11 people died and 20 injured).<ref name="b147">[[#Balaban|Balaban]], 147–149</ref><ref>[[#Balaban|Balaban]], 157: there is a likely misprint on p. 149 and the number of killed was 11 rather than 100</ref>

===Climate===
Batman has a hot summer [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Csa'', [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]]: ''Cs''). Summers in the city are, on average, one of the hottest in the nation, averaging {{convert|30.9|C}} in July. Rainfall is almost non-existent during the summer months, with many summer months passing by without measurable precipitation. Winters are cool and wet with frosty nights. Snowfall is sporadic between the months of December and March, snowing for a week or two, with a record snow depth of {{convert|32.0|cm|abbr=on}}.

Highest recorded temperature:{{convert|48.8|C|F|abbr=on}} on 10 July 1962<br>Lowest recorded temperature:{{convert|-24.0|C|F|abbr=on}} on 1 January 2007<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mgm.gov.tr/veridegerlendirme/il-ve-ilceler-istatistik.aspx?k=A&m=BATMAN |title=İllerimize Ait Genel İstatistik Verileri: Batman |access-date=24 June 2024 |website=mgm.gov.tr |publisher=Meteoroloji Genel Müdürlüğü |no-pp=y |language=Turkish}}</ref>

{{Weather box |metric first= Yes |single line= Yes |location= Batman (1991–2020, extremes 1959–2023)
|Jan record high C = 18.6
|Feb record high C = 24.6
|Mar record high C = 30.6
|Apr record high C = 35.8
|May record high C = 42.0
|Jun record high C = 45.1
|Jul record high C = 48.8
|Aug record high C = 46.2
|Sep record high C = 43.8
|Oct record high C = 37.0
|Nov record high C = 28.6
|Dec record high C = 22.6
|year record high C = 48.8
|Jan high C = 8.0
|Feb high C = 10.9
|Mar high C = 16.2
|Apr high C = 21.8
|May high C = 27.8
|Jun high C = 35.3
|Jul high C = 39.7
|Aug high C = 39.6
|Sep high C = 34.5
|Oct high C = 27.0
|Nov high C = 17.0
|Dec high C = 9.6
|year high C = 23.9
|Jan mean C = 3.1
|Feb mean C = 5.1
|Mar mean C = 9.8
|Apr mean C = 14.6
|May mean C = 19.8
|Jun mean C = 26.7
|Jul mean C = 30.9
|Aug mean C = 30.4
|Sep mean C = 25.1
|Oct mean C = 18.4
|Nov mean C = 10.0
|Dec mean C = 4.6
|year mean C = 16.5 
|Jan low C = -1.0
|Feb low C = 0.2
|Mar low C = 3.8
|Apr low C = 7.8
|May low C = 11.6
|Jun low C = 16.4
|Jul low C = 20.8
|Aug low C = 20.4
|Sep low C = 15.6
|Oct low C = 10.8
|Nov low C = 4.2
|Dec low C = 0.5
|year low C = 9.3
|Jan record low C = -24.0
|Feb record low C = -22.2
|Mar record low C = -17.0
|Apr record low C = -9.0
|May record low C = 0.9
|Jun record low C = 0.0
|Jul record low C = 11.8
|Aug record low C = 11.5
|Sep record low C = 4.4
|Oct record low C = -3.0
|Nov record low C = -7.6
|Dec record low C = -23.0
|year record low C = -24.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 58.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 67.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 77.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 71.3
|May precipitation mm = 45.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 9.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 2.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 2.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 6.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 36.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 49.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 67.8
|year precipitation mm = 493.6
|Jan precipitation days = 10.17
|Feb precipitation days = 10.13
|Mar precipitation days = 11.43
|Apr precipitation days = 11.03
|May precipitation days = 8.3
|Jun precipitation days = 2.03
|Jul precipitation days = 0.53
|Aug precipitation days = 0.30
|Sep precipitation days = 1.13
|Oct precipitation days = 5.73
|Nov precipitation days = 6.37
|Dec precipitation days = 10.23
|year precipitation days = 77.4
| Jan snow days  =2.1
| Feb snow days  =1.5
| Mar snow days  =0.8
| Apr snow days  =0
| May snow days  =0
| Jun snow days  =0
| Jul snow days  =0
| Aug snow days  =0
| Sep snow days  =0
| Oct snow days  =0
| Nov snow days  =0.1
| Dec snow days  =0.8
| year snow days =
|Jan humidity = 77.4
|Feb humidity = 71.9
|Mar humidity = 66.1
|Apr humidity = 64.8
|May humidity = 57.7
|Jun humidity = 39.0
|Jul humidity = 32.2
|Aug humidity = 31.8
|Sep humidity = 36.9
|Oct humidity = 51.5
|Nov humidity = 68.5
|Dec humidity = 78.1
|year humidity = 56.1
|Jan sun = 98.4
|Feb sun = 128.6
|Mar sun = 169.1
|Apr sun = 215.5
|May sun = 280.1
|Jun sun = 346.5
|Jul sun = 368.5
|Aug sun = 347.5
|Sep sun = 293.3
|Oct sun = 217.2
|Nov sun = 156.7
|Dec sun = 92.6
|year sun = 2692.5
|Jand sun = 3.2
|Febd sun = 4.6
|Mard sun = 5.5
|Aprd sun = 7.3
|Mayd sun = 9.0
|Jund sun = 11.6
|Juld sun = 11.9
|Augd sun = 11.2
|Sepd sun = 9.8
|Octd sun = 7.0
|Novd sun = 5.3
|Decd sun = 3.0
|yeard sun = 7.4
|source 1 = [[Turkish State Meteorological Service]]<ref>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.mgm.gov.tr/veridegerlendirme/il-ve-ilceler-istatistik.aspx?k=H&m=BATMAN
| title = Resmi İstatistikler: İllerimize Ait Mevism Normalleri (1991–2020)
| publisher = Turkish State Meteorological Service
| language = tr
| access-date = 3 May 2021}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[NOAA]] (humidity, sun 1991–2020),<ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Turkiye/CSV/Batman_17282.csv |format = CSV | title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020: Batman-17282
| publisher = [[NCEI|National Centers for Environmental Information]]
| access-date = 2 August 2023}}</ref> Meteomanz(snow days 2008-2023)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.meteomanz.com/sy3?l=1&cou=6290&ind=17282&m1=01&y1=2000&m2=12&y2=2023 |title=Batman - Weather data by months |access-date=15 July 2024 |website=meteomanz}}</ref>
}}

==Notable people==
* [[İbrahim Bilgen]] (1949–2010), Kurdish politician
* [[Nalin Pekgul]] ({{born-in|1967}}), Kurdish politician

==References==
'''Notes'''
{{Notelist}}
'''Citations'''
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*{{cite book |author1=Avcıkıran |first=Adem |title=Kürtçe Anamnez Anamneza bi Kurmancî |date=2009 |language=tr, ku}}
*{{cite book | last1 =Bcheiry|first1=Iskandar |date=2009|title=The Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Register of Dues of 1870: An Unpublished Historical Document from the Late Ottoman Period|publisher=Gorgias Press|url=https://archive.org/details/the-syriac-orthodox-patriarchal-register-of-dues-of-1870-an-unpublished-historic|access-date=21 March 2025}}
*{{cite book | last1 =Gaunt| first1 =David |date=2006|title=Massacres, Resistance, Protectors: Muslim-Christian Relations in Eastern Anatolia during World War I|publisher=Gorgias Press|url=https://archive.org/details/massacres-resistance-protectors-muslim-christian-relations-in-eastern-anatolia-d|access-date=21 May 2023}}
*{{cite book |editor-last1 =Jongerden|editor-first1 =Joost|editor-last2 =Verheij|editor-first2 =Jelle |date=2012|title=Social Relations in Ottoman Diyarbekir, 1870-1915|publisher=Brill|url=https://archive.org/details/social-relations-in-ottoman-diyarbekir-1870-1915-by-joost-jongerden-jelle-verheij-z-lib.org|access-date=20 November 2024}}
*{{Cite book |last=Kévorkian|first=Raymond H.|chapter=Demographic Changes in the Armenian Population of Diarbekir, 1895-1914|title=Armenian Tigranakert/Diarbekir and Edessa/Urfa|year=2006|editor1=Richard G. Hovannisian|author-link=Raymond Kévorkian|publisher=Mazda Publishers|url=https://archive.org/details/kevorkian-2006-diarbekir-demography|access-date=20 April 2025}}
*{{Cite book |last=Kévorkian|first=Raymond |title=[[The Armenian Genocide: A Complete History]]|year=2011|author-link=Raymond Kévorkian|publisher=[[I.B. Tauris]]}}
*{{cite thesis| last1 =Şenol Balaban|first1=Meltem|url=http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12610533/index.pdf |title=Risk society and planning: the case of flood disaster management in Turkish cities|year=2009}}
{{div col end}}

{{Batman District}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Commons category|Batman, Turkey}}

[[Category:Batman, Turkey| ]]
[[Category:Provincial municipalities in Turkey]]
[[Category:Populated places in Batman Province]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Tigris River]]
[[Category:Kurdish settlements in Batman Province]]
[[Category:Batman District]]
[[Category:Historic Assyrian communities in Batman Province]]
[[Category:Former Armenian communities in Batman Province]]
[[Category:Places of the Armenian genocide]]