After last year’s devastation caused by Turkish army’s bombardment Turkey pushed a plan to rebuild Sur. The plan includes expropriation of buildings without the owner’s consent. A large majority of house owners opposed government’s plans and did not accept the offer to expropriation of their property.

Turkish state started the demolition of houses in Sur yesterday. It’s reported that at least two houses for forcibly levelled without the owner’s consent. One house was torn down with all the belongings of the owner.

A resident of Sur, Mehmet Ak said the officials gave them notice to leave their houses until Tuesday. Ak was told that if they don’t comply with the order the house will be torn with everything in it. Ak said he witnessed forced demolitions of the buildings that were not empty and all the goods are now buried under the rubble.

“The president says ‘my Kurdish brothers’. Is this brotherhood? Is it levelling people’s homes to the ground. Those who do this call themselves Muslims. Is this Islam?” Ak said.

Ak also accused the demolition crew of attempting to level a building to the ground while there were four people inside. Ak said they were rescues on the last minute.

Sur was a scene of violent clashed between autonomist groups and Turkish army last year. The use of extensive force by Turkish army caused destruction of more than 1000 buildings in the district.