As part of an urban regeneration project in the Istanbul district of Fatih, the neighbourhood of Sulukule is being emptied. Ignoring the demands of local people and rejecting collaboration with NGOs, universities and professional chambers, local authorities are set on carrying out their project.
The Roma have appealed for public support:
"The urban regeneration project means that the Sulukule Roma will be taken out of their neighbourhood and will be settled 40 kilometres outside of the city. In addition, they will be burdened with debts they will never be able to pay," said representatives of the Sulukule Platform.
They object to the project on several accounts:
The Platform has appealed to people to voice their protest to the following people:
President Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertugrul Günay, Mayor of Greater Istanbul Kadir Topbas, and Fatih District Mayor Mustafa Demir.
Roma have been living in the Sulukule area since Byzantian times.(EZÖ/TK/AG)