The bar associations in Urfa and Van called for a collective social struggle to prevent the draft law from passing in the General Assembly of the Parliament.

Adlan Yapıcı, Chair of the Environment and Urban Commission of the Urfa (Riha) Bar Association, stated that the legal regulation in question runs counter to the long-term public interest. He emphasized that olive groves, forests, pastures, and agricultural lands are being systematically opened up to mining and energy projects.

Yapıcı stated, “We call on our colleagues, professional associations, civil society organizations, citizens, and all political parties represented in Parliament to oppose the passing of this bill in the General Assembly. These lands belong to all citizens and future generations, not to a handful of companies.”

Gülbahar Doğan, Chair of the Environment and Ecology Commission of the Van (Wan) Bar Association, issued a similar warning, stressing that village pastures or farmlands could be expropriated overnight by a presidential decree. Doğan stated, “This is an unacceptable situation in terms of the right to property and the right to a fair trial. Moreover, without even properly debating whether there is a genuine ‘public interest’ or not, a blanket and hasty expropriation mechanism is being introduced.”