A controversial bill that would allow energy and mining projects in protected areas has been postponed by the Turkish parliament after villagers and environmental activists staged a mass protest in Ankara on Tuesday, Turkey’s liberal leftist internet journal Diken reported.
The bill, introduced to parliament on 13 June and fast-tracked to a parliamentary commission by 19 June, was scheduled for debate on 24 June. It proposed sweeping changes to environmental protections, permitting the exploitation of forests, wetlands, olive groves, and even archaeological sites for industrial use.
Dozens of villagers from regions such as Akbelen, Deştin, and Eskişehir, along with members of ecological organisations and lawyers, travelled to the Turkish capital to demand the bill’s withdrawal. Their protest outside the Grand National Assembly led to a last-minute change in the parliamentary agenda, stalling the bill’s discussion.
The demonstrators accuse the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) coalition of bypassing democratic legislative norms and silencing public debate. “This is a war against citizens and nature,” the protesters declared in a joint statement. “This bill is nothing short of a land grab.”
Critics have dubbed the proposal a “super exploitation law”. Among its provisions:
– Environmental Impact Assessments (ÇED) would be stripped of their power.
– Forests and grazing lands could be handed to private companies without compensation.
– Olive groves, particularly those in Yatağan and Akbelen, face forced expropriation for coal mining.
– The Ministry of Energy would be granted extensive powers over planning and zoning.
The legislation also aligns with foreign investment deals, particularly with companies from the United Arab Emirates and China, raising fears of loss of national control over natural resources.
Opposition lawmakers protested during the committee sessions, which lasted 26 hours without changes to the bill. Environmentalists and villagers were initially excluded from the meetings but were later partially admitted after staging a sit-in at the parliament grounds.
The Climate Justice Coalition, Ecological Union, and several local platforms urged the government to withdraw not only the “exploitation bill” but also a separate proposed Climate Law, which they claim serves corporate interests rather than addressing climate emergencies.
“Parliament’s agenda must serve the people, not capital,” the statement read. “We will not surrender our land.”
The delay marks a temporary victory for environmental defenders. However, they warned that the struggle would continue if the bill reappears on the legislative schedule.
