The plan to construct a police facility in place of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Park in Istanbul’s Esenyurt district was protested in the park under the leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK). The demonstration was attended by the Mesopotamia Supporters Association (META-DER), HDK Co-Spokesperson Meral Danış Beştaş, Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Istanbul Co-Chair Çınar Altan and district executives, dismissed Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, and representatives of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Esenyurt District Organization.
DEM Party Esenyurt District Co-Chair Serkan Yılmaz emphasized that green spaces in Esenyurt are already limited and that an alternative location should be found for the police facility. CHP Esenyurt District Chair Cafer Çakmak stated that Esenyurt has one of the lowest amounts of green space among Istanbul’s districts and said that the construction could be prevented through a united struggle. Ahmet Özer, the dismissed Mayor of Esenyurt, noted that 15 political parties and civil society organizations had come together, adding that it was significant that all parties except the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) had gathered to oppose the construction of the police facility in the park. He stressed that the park also serves as an earthquake assembly area and added that the district’s population is approximately 1.5 million. Özer underlined that the park must be preserved as a green space and called for an end to the appointment of trustees. He said, “We are carrying out a peace process. For this reason, this practice of appointing trustees must come to an end, the will of the people must be recognized, and justice must prevail.”
Call to withdraw decision
HDK Co-Spokesperson Meral Danış Beştaş began her speech by saying, “I am saddened to be speaking in a district where decisions that should be made by the will of the people, concerning spaces that belong to the public, are instead taken by appointed officials.” She stated that they will continue to struggle for the will of the people to prevail and described the park as a space where communities can breathe. Beştaş underlined that the park meets public needs and serves as a playground for children, adding: “We do not accept a decision made under the pretext of public interest, and we demand that it be withdrawn immediately.” Beştaş continued: “Those who pursue security policies under the name of public interest are the ones causing the greatest harm to the public. The public interest lies in this park. Public interest is not about suffocating people. This is what a freedom-oriented perspective requires. AKP believes it can mislead people by invoking the term ‘public interest,’ but the public is aware of everything. This decision would cause significant harm, from living and recreational spaces to earthquake assembly areas. Turkey is an earthquake-prone country, and such areas are necessary. Those who eliminate earthquake assembly areas demonstrate that they do not feel the need to prepare for earthquakes. A lawsuit will also be filed on this matter. However, the Council of State has previously issued annulment decisions in such cases. Therefore, I will call you to withdraw this decision. Esenyurt did not elect you, and you have no legitimacy to make such a decision on behalf of its residents.”
We will oppose police facility plan
Meral Danış Beştaş addressed the appointed trustee of Esenyurt Municipality and said: “You will be gone soon; you cannot remain there. We know the reasons why you are sitting in that position. How can you seize the will of the largest district in Turkey with a single decree? The appointment of a trustee is a usurpation. It has no place in law.” Beştaş also drew attention to trustee appointments in Kurdistan and stated that such policies contradict the Peace and Democratic Society Process. She said they are working to strengthen trust in the process and added: “We say that the future of Turkey lies in a democratic republic where the Kurdish people, along with all other peoples and identities, can live equally and freely. But such a republic cannot accommodate the denial of the mother tongue or the practice of trusteeship. We will fight against the construction of a police facility in Esenyurt. We will not allow these police buildings to be erected here. The people will defend their park and their lives.”
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