DİYARBAKIR – District Governorship of Sur County announced demolishment of neighborhood and asked residents of Sur to leave the houses in a week. Residents reacted to decision of governorship and said “ We will not let them demolish our houses even if we die.”

Lalebey and Alipaşa Neighborhoods face to demolishment under urban transformation project. Religious functionary announced governorship decision from the mosque’s loudspeakers and asked residents to leave the houses in a week. Residents stated they will not let their houses to be demolished.

A resident of Lalebey Neigborhood Ramazan Çakır says state’s decision is for its followers’ income. “Situation pf Sur people is obvious. Here is not a place that left too easy. There are almost one thousand and 500 houses in this neighborhood. Where are the families going to ? People of this neighborhood will not leave here easily. This decision aims to punish Sur people” said.

Another resident of the neighborhood Muhterem Demir “ Where will we go if we leave this neighborhood. We will not go anywhere else. No one wants their houses to be demolished. We don’t have any opportunity else to go. We really don’t know in which purpose they decide to demolish our houses. Nothing has been told us until yesterday and now they ask us to leave the neighborhood in six days. We don’t accept this” said.

Remziye Kurtulul 65 year-old says “ I can’t live a house for rent after this age. Sur is my history. My children and grandchildren were born here. I don’t want my history to be demolished.”

Another citizen from the neighborhoods Türkan Oğurliyan said “ I just repaired my house. How can I let them to demolish my home? I don’t leave from Sur even I die.”