In the Alipaşa neighborhood of Amed's Sur district, the systematic demolition and destruction taking place under the name of "urban renovation", has been paused temporarily. As 80 % of the neighborhood has been evacuated and demolished already, some families have not left their homes, resisting the forced displacement of the state.

The demolition launched in Alipaşa under the name of 'expropriation' on 23 May has been paused for an unknown time. As the demolition continues for around two months, 80 % of all homes has been totally emptied or destroyed. Some families remain in their houses, resisting the forced displacement of the state.

Officials of Turkey's Housing Development Administration (TOKİ) have met with those residents who refuse to abandon their houses. The officials stated that demolition of the houses will be halted for the time being until the final court decision on the cases opened against the expropriation decree, while those homes that have been emptied will still be demolished.

Mukaddes Tayyura, a resident of the Alipaşa neighborhood said that the judicial process is still ongoing and their houses will remain safe until a judgement is given.

80 % OF SUR EVACUATED

Tayyura stressed that with the demolition decree, their water and electricity was cut off, saying: "During the month of Ramadan the water and electricity supply of the neighborhood was reactivated again.

Officials from DEDAŞ (Diyarbakır Electricity Distribution Company) came here to say that we used illegal electricity and asked us to go to the institution to make an official application for new electricity subscription in order that we do not get fined. We would agree to make new subscriptions as long as they do not victimize us until the court verdict is issued. The houses of those who made an agreement with the TOKI before are being totally demolished. In our neighbourhood residents remain in 20 % of the houses and the rest has been evacuated and torn down."

Another resident Zekiye Tanrikulu said that they continue their lives as three families, together with two of her married sons, under one roof, stressing that they will not accept any money to be given to them in return for their home. Tanrikulu stated that she wants to stay in her neighborhood, saying: "I want to die here. They shall just let me have a house here, I do not want anything else."

“HOUSES ENGAGED IN A LAWSUIT HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED”

Alipaşa neighbourhood mukhtar Behzat Sular said: “Demolition has been suspended for now. Some people still remain in their houses and empty houses are being demolished. The houses engaged in a lawsuit have not been involved in the demolition campaign yet. They are saying that they will wait for the court decision but some houses engaged in a lawsuit against expropriation have been demolished already. We are waiting at the moment and we do not know what will happen.”