Urban transformation tension in Ümraniye: Police intervention against citizens in Topağacı Neighborhood
As residents of the Topağacı Neighborhood in Ümraniye continue their resistance against demolition and eviction procedures initiated as part of an urban transformation project, a police intervention took place.
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The Topağacı Neighborhood, located in Istanbul's Ümraniye district, entered an urban transformation process after being declared a 'reserve building area.' Residents began a resistance, refusing to leave their homes. This morning, riot police accompanied teams that arrived in the neighborhood to cut off electricity, water, and natural gas services. Following the reaction of the residents, the police intervened, and many people were detained.
In a statement made on social media, the residents said, "They came to cut off the electricity, water, and natural gas of the remaining houses along with riot police teams. Turgay from our neighborhood was detained. We will not bow to bullying. We will continue to resist until the Ministry engages with us. We call on everyone to come to our neighborhood in solidarity."
Sevgi, one of the residents who was detained with her hands cuffed behind her back, expressed her reaction by saying, "I have four children, how am I supposed to pay rent?" The neighborhood residents stated that they would continue their resistance against these practices, which they describe as "rent-seeking transformation."