Roma People’s Neighborhood Seeks Way Out

Roma community in Istanbul’s Sarıgöl neighborhood raised their voices against the urban renewal project that continued with a series of demolitions of households in the area. 

As part of ROMİTA’s project, architect Korhan Gümüş organized an expedition with other associations of NGOs to the neighborhood.

The group came together with a variety of local activists including Şadi Çatı Başı. 

Roma community members raise their voices against the urban renewal that they claim to not address their basic issues regarding social exclusion, education and health. 

"Government doesn’t communicate with us"

While the reactions of the Roma people mostly base on the government’s behavior to turn a deaf ear to their problems, they mostly claimed that the urban renewal project ignored their demands and concerns. Most demolitions are made on the basis of visual polution and danger of collapse. 

Although the government made promise to Roma people that they would build houses with swimming pools, only 3 household were given the possibility to have an apartment. 

Believing that they were to be expelled from the neighborhood and subjected to discrimination, neighborhood dwellers seek only one thing - the removal of bulldozers from their living space. 

While they express that they could support urban renewal projects in the condition that it will bolster and repair their houses, most neighborhood dwellers said they are concerned with being moved out from their half decade long living space. 

Some dwellers claim that they have been pushed to sign over their apartment with a statement. 

“We have been deceived by the fear of an incoming earthquake. We are trying to convince people to resist against the demolition,” they said. 

What happened?        

Authorities declared a 4,300,000 hectar land as “risky” according to Law 6306 on disasters. 

Previously, neighborhood dwellers filed a complaint to Turkey’s Council of State for the suspension execution. The judicial process is underway. 

On the other hand, "Sarıgöl Kent Konutları”, a condominium project started in Sarıgöl, has already attracted buyers. 

Several times, bianet reported incidents related to the tragedy of Roma people who were expelled from their neighborhoods for a third time. (BA/HA/NV/GOA/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.