The resistance of Topağacı residents has continued for 60 days. They were forced out of their titled homes under the pretext of urban transformation declared a “reserved construction area” by the AKP-run Ümraniye Municipality and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change. Electricity, water, and natural gas were cut off by police enforcement.
As of September 18, about 20 homes were demolished with police escort, leaving only three houses standing in the neighborhood. The Yılmaz family, living in one of the remaining homes, has been resisting this seizure for almost two months. Sadık Yılmaz, living with his 80-year-old parents and surviving by candlelight at night, spoke to ANF, expressing his outrage: “We worked and voted for them for 20 years, but now they victimized us.”
The state didn’t lay a single nail in the neighborhood!
In Topağacı Neighborhood, many residents had to leave after their utilities were cut on July 24 by police enforcement to make way for the urban transformation. The Yılmaz family, who did not sign the contract, continues to resist having their homes taken for profit. Sadık Yılmaz, who has lived in the neighborhood all his life, emphasized that his father literally “built everything with his nails,” pointing out that the state never contributed: “There was neither asphalt nor sewage system here. My father and other residents have worked since 1988 to fill these gaps. From paving roads and installing sewer systems to electricity poles, the residents did it all themselves. We even funded the mosque as a community. The local health center is not state property either—it belongs to an individual. Yet some people think we occupied state property. That’s not true. The residents built this neighborhood with their own efforts. The state didn’t lift a finger.”
The municipality claimed the profits for itself
Yılmaz explained that they received their property deeds in 2012. Soon after, contractors affiliated with Alpha and NEF visited the neighborhood, claiming the area was valuable and presenting projects with 4–5-story buildings to the residents. However, when the municipality later reduced the allowed building height, the contractors withdrew, citing potential losses. Yılmaz said: “At that time, the Ümraniye Municipality’s zoning reduction caused contractors to withdraw, not us. Now, the municipality claims homes are old for urban transformation, but that’s false—the municipality itself blocked contractors. Back then, the municipality was under AKP control. A few years later, in 2021, officials told us the area was very valuable and asked us to collect signatures according to the zoning we wanted. They suggested contractors would flood the neighborhood, warning us not to settle for less than 50%. We collected signatures for 50 plots with 100 people and submitted them to the municipality. Fifteen days later, the officials came back and said, ‘You posted the signatures, but no one came. It’s better if the municipality claims it ourselves.’ We asked the percentage, and they said 45%. Just before the local elections in 2024, then-Minister Murat Kurum came to lay a foundation and told us the rate was increased from 45% to 50%.”
They tried to convince residents at the mosque
Yılmaz said the municipality held meetings at the mosque to persuade residents to sign preliminary contracts, resulting in many signatures. He emphasized the role of Yaşar Karataş, a former two-term neighborhood head, who convinced and misled residents and is now a municipal council member.
Despite the preliminary contracts, the municipality did not start construction for three years. Yılmaz said: “When local elections approached, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change opened an office here. We asked about the contracts and were told that because construction costs were not covered, our contracts were canceled and the project was transferred to the ministry. They would then collect signatures to request the budget. Most residents signed without reading the contracts. We didn’t, and asked for a copy to show our lawyers. They refused, saying we could only review it at the municipality. A resident photographed it with his phone. When our lawyer reviewed the 16-article contract, we realized the problem: the contract stated we donated 25% of our land to the treasury. As if we were very rich, we are donating to the state. In short, the contract says, ‘You can only care about your apartment, nothing else.’ My land is mine, my house is mine, yet they share in my property and give me nothing. We immediately objected and 146 residents canceled their preliminary contracts at a notary.”
Yılmaz said the neighborhood was declared a first-degree protected area via satellite, despite no damage from earthquakes. After objections, they were forced to conduct core drilling, but the drills could not penetrate even 17 meters of solid ground, nullifying the earthquake excuse.
Despite litigation, we are forced out by police
Even though they are involved in a legal battle, Yılmaz said police are trying to evict them by force. The door was broken and utilities cut. He added: “They handcuffed me twice for defending my home. The municipality gives no orders; the police arrive saying, ‘Cut water, cut gas.’ They even say they are here for our safety. Meanwhile, they bring armored vehicles, water cannons, and riot police, disturbing the peace as if a war were happening.”
We have nowhere else to go
Living with his elderly parents, Yılmaz has survived for two months by candlelight, cooking with gas cylinders, bathing at relatives’ homes, and washing belongings elsewhere. He noted the neighborhood’s stray animals are also suffering: “We can’t care for them properly either. They are hungry, thirsty, and miserable. Animal lovers should see this.”
He highlighted that demolition teams, escorted by police on August 18, destroyed homes of both those who signed and those who didn’t, leaving only three homes standing.
Despite all pressure, threats, and coercion, Yılmaz is determined not to leave: “My parents are old. We have nowhere else to go. Winter is coming, but they don’t care. They say, ‘Leave, you’ll get your rights once construction starts,’ but there’s no guarantee and no contract. Schools started, so people had to leave. My brother’s two children had to move too, without even receiving relocation costs. I can stay, but the kids would suffer. We won’t leave, because this place is close to the financial center, and they will evict us for profit, putting white-collar workers in our place.”
Finally, Yılmaz called for legal assistance: “We don’t know the laws well, so they exploit this to make us sign anything. We need volunteer lawyers to defend our rights.”