Citizens protest tree felling in Kadıköy

Hundreds of citizens in Kadıköy's Kozyatağı neighborhood gathered to protest the felling of trees in the Çınar Altı Green Space. Opposing the tree cutting and the attempt to convert the area into commercial projects, local residents characterized the process as "the usurpation of public space and ecological destruction." The protesters stated that they would continue their struggle to protect the public nature of the green space.

PROTEST BY NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS

The crowd, which gathered against plans to cut down trees and allocate the area to a business for a commercial project in the Çınar Altı Green Space located next to the Modern Mosque, marched toward the Kozzy Shopping Mall following a press statement. It was stated that many trees were damaged during the intervention initiated by the tenant business on the land leased by the Directorate of Foundations under the pretext of "tree relocation."

KADIKÖY MUNICIPALITY HALTED THE INTERVENTION

While information was provided that the Kadıköy Municipality had halted the tree felling, neighborhood residents evaluated the process within a broader framework, defining it as "the usurpation of public space and ecological destruction."

During the protests, slogans such as "Capital, take your hands off our neighborhood" were chanted. The protesters stated that the intervention was not supported by scientific reports and was carried out without a participatory process, adding that they would initiate legal action.

In their statements, the protesters emphasized that the Çınar Altı Green Space is not just a park, but also a living space for neighborhood culture, social memory, and birds and stray animals. The residents stated that they would continue to do everything in their power to protect the public nature of the green space in the area.

News Source: 12punto