Homeless heart patient protests eviction with banners: 'My heart is sick, what about your conscience?'

A homeless heart patient in Turkey has resorted to a silent protest, holding banners outside a mosque after being evicted from his home due to mounting rent arrears.

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I cannot work. I get breathless after walking for just 1-2 minutes.

Hasan Güler, diagnosed with severe heart disease in January, was discharged from the hospital on January 22. Unable to work due to his condition, he struggled to pay his rent. While neighbors and local shopkeepers provided some financial support, Güler accumulated a debt of 14,000 lira.

His landlord demanded he vacate the property by July 3, citing the overdue rent and upcoming payments. Güler complied, leaving him with no place to stay. He has since been sleeping on a bank outside a mosque, displaying banners that read: "This is a silent protest, please do not give money," "A person cannot be less valuable than two months' rent," and "My heart is sick, what about your conscience?"

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This is a silent protest, please do not give money. A person cannot be less valuable than two months' rent. My heart is sick, what about your conscience?

Güler explained his predicament, stating, "I cannot work. I get breathless after walking for just 1-2 minutes." He sought assistance from social services but was told that shelter could not be provided without a disability report. Güler suffers from three heart conditions, including leakage in both aortic valves.

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Instead of going to places and knocking on doors, I wanted to use social media, which is a powerful weapon.

He initiated the protest as a way to draw attention to his plight, expressing frustration with constantly seeking help. "Instead of going to places and knocking on doors, I wanted to use social media, which is a powerful weapon," he said. Güler also recounted an incident where someone claiming to be the muhtar's son tried to stop his protest, accusing him of disrespecting state officials, an accusation Güler demanded proof for.

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You have a debt of 14,000 lira and new rent is coming, how will we handle this? You know my situation. We cannot resolve this in this way, vacate the house.