Residents of Alipaşa and Lalebey neighborhoods scheduled for demolition in Amed’s Sur district wanted to march to the governorate to stop the demolition. A crowd gathered in the Kilise Square early in the morning and chanted “We won’t give up our home”. With the gathering, police blockaded the two neighborhoods and the Urfa Kapı area. The governorate has yet to issue a statement on the events in the Sur district while the Environment and Urbanization Ministry announced that the demolitions will start tomorrow.

AS THE PEOPLE RESIST THEY STEP BACK

Residents had been sent notices to evacuate their homes in Alipaşa and Lalebey neighborhoods where demolition was scheduled to start. Water was cut of in the neighborhoods and diggers attempted to enter the neighborhood, but were pushed back by the people’s resistance. After this incident, police stopped the people from marching to the governorate today. The people continue their wait despite the police and the blockade.

THREATS OF “MASSACRES”

The people are not abandoning their homes despite all threats, but were threatened again by the police who entered the neighborhood yesterday. They say they are forced to leave their homes and the police told them that if they won’t leave, they will be forced to leave with diggers. The police told the people they would tear down the homes “like in Sur” and will throw their bodies to the construction sites.

“WE ARE HERE UNTIL THE END”

Kafiye Sun is one of the people who are determined not to abandon their homes in the face of threats and preventions. “Where will we go? This is the second time they have come and stopped us. We won’t abandon this place, we will resist until the end. We don’t want their money anymore either. We are here until the end, we are not abandoning our homes. Let them come, and murder me and my children in our home like they said.”