A protest in response to the Turkish government’s proposal over housing intended for earthquake victims has continued 20 days in Dikmece, a neighborhood in Turkey’s southern province of Hatay. Hatay was the province most severely impacted by the devastating earthquakes that struck the country in February 2023.
The Hatay Branch of Turkey’s Human Rights Association (İHD) has responded to the Turkish government’ s building plans in Hatay by preparing a report on the situation, entitled “Dikmece Report.” The report emphasises that the housing planned by TOKİ (Housing Development Administration of Turkey)must be built outside agricultural lands, olive groves, and pasture areas. This approach would protect the livelihood and cultural heritage of the local community, who rely on these lands for their sustenance and way of life.
İHD’s Hatay Branch Co-Chair Mürsel Tonguç Salmanoğlu highlighted villagers’ concerns, stating that they are not against housing for earthquake victims but oppose the destruction of first-class agricultural lands, pasture areas, and centuries-old olive trees. “[The villagers] have expressed that they will become unemployed as a result of their agricultural lands being taken away, that they have no other profession besides farming, and that they do not want to abandon the lands they have inherited from their ancestors,” Salmanoğlu said.
The report also detailed instances of disproportionate force used by the police and gendarmerie against protesters trying to prevent construction machinery from entering the agricultural lands on 30 July 2023.
Salmanoğlu’s suggestions include: including the people of Dikmece in the entire planning process, and thus adhering to European standards of participation; building TOKİ housing outside first-class agricultural lands, olive grove areas, and pasture areas; and either constructing the housing on deforested forest lands or state-owned lands, or shifting to other areas that will not harm the ecological balance.
The Adana Deputy for Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Green Left Party, Tülay Hatimoğulları, also called for support for the ongoing protests in Dikmece.
