Ben û Sen, one of the neighborhoods of Diyarbakır’s Yenişehir district, was expropriated as part of the restoration project that started in Sur last year. “Life and peace in our neighborhood have been destroyed after the expropriation decision,” the women living in the neighborhood told us.

MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Amed – Last year, Ben û Sen, one of the neighborhoods of Diyarbakır’s Yenişehir district, was expropriated as part of the restoration project that started in Sur. While a year has passed since the restoration project started around the historical city walls, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015, hundreds of houses near the walls have been destroyed and thousands of civilians have been forcibly displaced as part of the project. All houses in the neighborhood are expected to be brought down this year. The citizens living among the ruined houses emphasize that they don’t have peace in their neighborhood since the expropriation was declared in their neighborhood.

The neighborhood becomes a place for harassers and thieves!

As part of the restoration project, a green park, including a public garden, will be built in the neighborhood. While the citizens living in the neighborhood where hundreds of houses were brought down and more are expected to be brought down this year, watch the restoration with concern because their lives have completely changed since the destruction in the neighborhood started. The women of the neighborhood draw attention to that the number of thieves in their neighborhood has increased three or four times compared to the past. They also told us that the number of harassers and drug users has also increased.

“Our lives have completely changed”

Sürreya Uslu has lived in the Ben û Sen neighborhood for 40 years. Stating that they cannot go out in the evening from fear, she said, “Before the declaration of the expropriation, our neighborhood was beautiful and crowded. There were thieves but not so much. Now, we cannot leave anything in front of our houses because it can be stolen. We don’t know where we can go when our house is brought down. We used to have a beautiful life before, we had neighbors and we lived in peace together. But all people had to leave their houses and I live here alone.”

“We cannot go far from our houses due to thieves”

Hava Uslu is another woman living in the neighborhood. Stating that they cannot go far from their houses due to thieves, Hava Uslu said, “We don’t want our houses to be brought down. If they bring them down, they should first give us houses to live in. We don’t know what we should do if they bring our houses down and don’t give us houses to live in. We want to leave our neighborhood now because of thieves. We used to have good neighbors but they had to leave their houses. We are victims and don’t know what to do due to thieves and harassers.”

“They should restore our houses instead of bringing them down”

Nezahat Uslu doesn’t want to leave her neighborhood. “They bring down our houses and leave us without houses. They should restore our houses instead of bringing them down. I have nothing only this house. I don’t know where I should go if they bring my house down. There are thieves everywhere. All we want is a peaceful life.”