A lawsuit has been filed against the planned construction on an emergency assembly area in the Kurdish metropolis of Amed (tr. Diyarbakır). The Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) has taken legal action against the decision to rezone a more than 1,300-hectare area in the Kayapınar district for construction. The area is officially designated as a disaster assembly point and is one of the city’s most important green spaces. Critics warn that the rezoning could not only lead to ecological damage but also endanger public safety in the event of earthquakes or other disasters.
Kaya: A profit-driven project
Representatives from politics and civil society describe the project as primarily serving economic interests. DEM Party MP Adalet Kaya called the plans a “profit-driven project” affecting fundamental rights. She stated that the issue concerns the right to the city, to health, and to a healthy environment, and announced that legal and political resistance would continue.
Defending urban living spaces
The municipal administration has also strongly criticized the decision. Kayapınar Co-Mayor Berivan Gülşen Sincar emphasized the area’s central importance for the urban climate and as a “breathing space” for residents. In recent years, she said, there have been initiatives to secure the area as a public green space, but these have not been successful. Co-Mayor Cengiz Dündar stated that construction without public consent is unacceptable. “This area cannot be concreted over without the consent of the people,” he said, adding that they would defend urban living spaces.
Experts warn of concrete ecological consequences
Experts also warn of tangible ecological impacts. The Chamber of Engineers points out that construction would disrupt air circulation in the region, increase surface sealing, and lead to tree cutting. In addition, the city would lose a key area for disaster preparedness. TMMOB criticized the fact that the decision was made without sufficient involvement of local institutions and civil society actors. The organization has therefore filed both a request to suspend implementation and a lawsuit seeking annulment of the decision.
Struggle against environmental destruction
Addressing the political dimension, a representative of the chamber stated that projects imposed against the clear will of the population do not serve the public good but economic interests. She also called on the public and civil society organizations to join the legal process.
The dispute over the area in Kayapınar reflects a broader conflict: in many cities, public spaces are increasingly subjected to economic exploitation, while ecological and social functions are pushed into the background. In Amed, this trend has long faced resistance. The municipal administration and civil society are also taking action against other projects considered environmentally harmful.
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