Being vegan in Diyarbakır: “The moral aspect of not eating meat never even occurred to me”
Elida Zerri’s unwavering conviction has gradually dispelled the initial criticism and enabled her family to embrace her lifestyle: “Those who once dismissed me as crazy have come to respect my choice”
28.03.2025
Diyarbakır boasts a rich culinary heritage where meat and dairy hold center stage. Yet, amid this time-honored tradition, one individual has embraced an entirely different path for the past eight years: Elida Zerri. Living a dedicated vegan lifestyle with her two children, aged 7 and 9, Zerri’s choice is rooted in a deep commitment to animal rights, environmental stewardship, and ethical values.
Her journey of transformation was ignited by Tom Regan’s Cages Be Emptied, the documentary Earthlings, and a 2010 conference by animal rights activist Gary Yourofsky. Adopting veganism was far from easy. Initially, her decision was dismissed by family and friends as madness, an eccentricity, or a fleeting trend. Her husband, especially, harbored significant skepticism. Over time, however, Zerri’s unwavering resolve gradually softened the criticism, leading her family to embrace her new lifestyle.
In her youth, Zerri believed that people turned to veganism only out of necessity, such as due to allergies, rather than from a conscious ethical choice. “The moral aspect of not eating meat never even occurred to me; it just wasn’t part of my upbringing,” she reflects.
Living in a city renowned for its kebabs and liver skewer, Zerri candidly recounts the challenges of being vegan in Diyarbakır. She recalls the initial ridicule and resistance she encountered, and the gradual shift in local perceptions. Today, she takes satisfaction in seeing change: “The people who once mocked me, thinking I was ill or had gone crazy, now prepare vegan food, cakes, and pastries when I visit. They have come to respect my lifestyle.”
This article was published as part of a program supported by the UK Ankara Embassy’s Bilateral Cooperation Programme. The content of this article is solely the responsibility of P24. The UK Embassy cannot be held liable for the information provided in this article.
