Osmaniye villagers: They are massacring the forest despite court order

Villagers in Devrişiye village, near Osmaniye in Turkey, are protesting the destruction of pine and olive trees, alleging that authorities are carrying out a "massacre" in the forest despite a court order.

The controversy centers around an expansion project near a dog shelter. The Osmaniye Administrative Court issued a stay of execution on June 16, 2026, halting construction due to its proximity to a watercourse and potential negative impact on residential areas. However, villagers claim that the Special Provincial Administration has continued to cut down trees in the 2B zone, an area designated for citizens.

“

A massacre is happening in the forest here. They are uprooting the pine trees, making roads through the forest. They are fencing off the 2B area. Despite the court's decision, the provincial administration is still coming here and working.

"A massacre is happening in the forest here. They are uprooting the pine trees, making roads through the forest," said village resident Sezai Kılıç. He added that despite the court's decision three weeks prior, officials are fencing off the 2B area and destroying the trees, burying them underground.

“

We have a court decision in our hands, a stay of execution decision, yet they continue. They are disregarding everything.

Fettah Kapan expressed frustration, stating, "They are tearing apart our lands in the 2B area above the dog shelter in our neighborhood." He noted that they had informed the Forestry Directorate, but the destruction of the pine trees continued. Kapan also mentioned that his 26-year-old olive trees were uprooted.

Nadir Kılıç echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the court order is being ignored. "We have a court decision in our hands, a stay of execution decision, yet they continue. They are disregarding everything," he said. Residents have reported the issue to the forest management and gendarmerie, but the work persists, causing significant distress and damage to their properties and the environment.

“

They are tearing apart our lands in the 2B area above the dog shelter in our neighborhood. We told the Forest Directorate, but look at the destroyed pine trees.