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Urgent Expropriation has been declared in Turkey’s southeastern Sur district of Diyarbakır by a cabinet decision.
Upon request of Ministry of Environment and Urbanization in accordance with article 27 of the Expropriation Law No. 2942, the decision taken by the Cabinet requires the urgent expropriation of two neighbourhoods of Yenişehir and 16 others in Sur district under curfew which had already been declared a risk area within the scope of the Law 6306 also known as the disaster law.
The above-mentioned article 27 of the Expropriation Law applies only in state of emergencies such as war and disaster.
Talking to bianet, Herdem Doğrul from Chamber of Architects Diyarbakır Branch has noted that almost the entire district of Sur, with the exception of some structures such as sanctuaries and inns owned by foundations, have been expropriated.
Noting that an entire district has passed into the ownership of the state, Doğrul has pointed out that the property owners had no other right of objection else than the objection to the compensation.
World Heritage Site
The city walls and Hevsel gardens are on the “World Heritage Site” list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Sur district, resided by around 120,000 persons is a second degree urban protected area and includes 124 monumental and 410 registered civil architectural structures.
The urban transformation in Sur is a long-discussed issue. Housing Development Administration (TOKİ) had demolished 330 of 850 constructions in Alipaşa and Lalebey neighbourhoods of Sur district in 2010 within the scope of the urban transformation in collaboration with the Ministry and Municipality. The operation which had drawn the reaction of the community had later been stopped at the end of 2013.
Yet during this period, Sur district as a whole was declared a risk area under the scope of the Law No. 6306, also known as Disaster Law on December 4, 2012.
The curfews continuing since September 6 in Sur district of Diyarbakır with short periods of revocation, cause not only civilian deaths but also the destruction of many constructions including historical artifacts in the district. (NV/DG)
