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Sulukule is the most ancient Roma neighbourhood in the world. It has been host to the Roma community for centuries. As a consequence of the implementation of urban renewal policies, the Fatih district municipality have started evicting hundreds of people out of their homes.
Accordingly, the tenants are relocated to Taşoluk, 40 km away from the city, where they will not be able to stay for long, first because, it is impossible for them to afford the debts and secondly, there, they can not lead there a life style in accordance with their traditions and culture…
As for the property owners, they have either sold their homes at a very low price because of the fear of expropriation or are provided with new housing by buying homes from the area but again with high loans.
As the consequence of this “gentrification” project, not only Roma people are dispersed throughout the city and their culture is lost but also poverty is transferred to the other regions of Istanbul without developing any real solutions in the neighbourhood. Right to shelter is also ignored as the new housing offered has high costs for the Roman people to meet.
Since 2005, Sulukule has been one of the local agendas discussed the most in Turkey and all over the world. For long, local, national and international institutions and public have been waiting for a solution based on a happy medium between both sides.
Some reflections are as follows:
UNESCO World Heritage Committee, in its meeting at Quebec-Canada in July, gave Turkey a length of time till February 2009 to sort out the problem. The Committee ranked Sulukule among the initial issues in the things to do list concerning the historical areas of Istanbul. In the report, it was emphasised that Sulukule is subject to a “gentrification” project and Roma community is faced with a forced eviction. A solution should be developed balancing conservation issues with social needs and identity of the local community.
UN-Habitat AGFE met on the 1st of September 2008 and the first article in their agenda was Sulukule, together with Ayazma, which is another project area in Istanbul. AGFE decided to send a mission to Istanbul in the following days.
UN Human Rights Commission re-contacted the government of the Republic of Turkey concerning Sulukule.
USA-OSCE Helsinki Commission wrote the second official letter to the government of the Republic of Turkey concerning Sulukule in the summer 2008.
EU 2007 Turkey Progress Report asked Turkish government to correct the problems in the Sulukule Renewal Plan.
Istanbul Governorship Human Rights Commission presented an extensive report to the Prime Ministry concerning the violations at Sulukule.
Local and international NGOs and civil initiatives continue their reactions via various activities.
Please click through here to the campaign website, scroll down, click "Support us" and sign by adding your name online. Thank you.
www.alternatifsulukule.org/defa....aspx
Accordingly, the tenants are relocated to Taşoluk, 40 km away from the city, where they will not be able to stay for long, first because, it is impossible for them to afford the debts and secondly, there, they can not lead there a life style in accordance with their traditions and culture…
As for the property owners, they have either sold their homes at a very low price because of the fear of expropriation or are provided with new housing by buying homes from the area but again with high loans.
As the consequence of this “gentrification” project, not only Roma people are dispersed throughout the city and their culture is lost but also poverty is transferred to the other regions of Istanbul without developing any real solutions in the neighbourhood. Right to shelter is also ignored as the new housing offered has high costs for the Roman people to meet.
Since 2005, Sulukule has been one of the local agendas discussed the most in Turkey and all over the world. For long, local, national and international institutions and public have been waiting for a solution based on a happy medium between both sides.
Some reflections are as follows:
UNESCO World Heritage Committee, in its meeting at Quebec-Canada in July, gave Turkey a length of time till February 2009 to sort out the problem. The Committee ranked Sulukule among the initial issues in the things to do list concerning the historical areas of Istanbul. In the report, it was emphasised that Sulukule is subject to a “gentrification” project and Roma community is faced with a forced eviction. A solution should be developed balancing conservation issues with social needs and identity of the local community.
UN-Habitat AGFE met on the 1st of September 2008 and the first article in their agenda was Sulukule, together with Ayazma, which is another project area in Istanbul. AGFE decided to send a mission to Istanbul in the following days.
UN Human Rights Commission re-contacted the government of the Republic of Turkey concerning Sulukule.
USA-OSCE Helsinki Commission wrote the second official letter to the government of the Republic of Turkey concerning Sulukule in the summer 2008.
EU 2007 Turkey Progress Report asked Turkish government to correct the problems in the Sulukule Renewal Plan.
Istanbul Governorship Human Rights Commission presented an extensive report to the Prime Ministry concerning the violations at Sulukule.
Local and international NGOs and civil initiatives continue their reactions via various activities.
Please click through here to the campaign website, scroll down, click "Support us" and sign by adding your name online. Thank you.
www.alternatifsulukule.org/defa....aspx
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