Residents protest home demolitions in Osmaniye, feeling abandoned

Residents of the Olukbaşı plateau in Osmaniye gathered in front of the provincial AKP headquarters to protest the impending demolition of their homes. They expressed outrage, claiming that demolition orders, initially reported as halted 10 days prior, were suddenly set to be enforced.

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People are on edge.

One resident described the situation as unbearable, stating, "People are on edge." She lamented the disruption to her family, particularly a sick child, and the financial strain of acquiring a mountain home for her child's health. "It's a shame, it's a sin. People should fear God," she said, questioning the conflicting information received about the demolition. "One moment we hear it won't be demolished, ten minutes later we hear it will be. Can't a member of parliament get this done? Is it that difficult?"

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It's a shame, it's a sin. People should fear God. One moment we hear it won't be demolished, ten minutes later we hear it will be. Can't a member of parliament get this done? Is it that difficult?

Another resident, who stated they had nothing left but their life after losing their home in the earthquake, vowed to resist the demolition. "I will set myself on fire. My house was destroyed in the earthquake. I have nothing left but my life. I will not let them demolish my house there." They asserted that their homes were not built illegally and were constructed with proper permits and supervision. "If I can't trust a prominent MP, if I can't trust the state, who can I trust? I can't trust the governor, the MP, the mayor. Who should I trust? I am in the homeland of a great leader. I worked for the MHP women's branch. What a waste of my efforts. I went door-to-door collecting votes for our President. I will set myself on fire here."

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I will set myself on fire. My house was destroyed in the earthquake. I have nothing left but my life. I will not let them demolish my house there.

Haluk Yıldırım, a victim from the plateau, echoed the sentiment of abandonment, stating, "Osmaniye was helpless during the earthquake, and we are helpless now." He recalled pulling bodies and survivors from the rubble during the earthquake and housing many displaced people on the plateau. He claimed Osmaniye received no aid then and is receiving none now. "Now, because of the houses on the Olukbaşı plateau, no one is by our side. Yet, when the time comes, we are all nationalists, we are all statists. We are all patriots," he added, expressing his frustration with the current situation.

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If I can't trust a prominent MP, if I can't trust the state, who can I trust? I can't trust the governor, the MP, the mayor. Who should I trust? I am in the homeland of a great leader. I worked for the MHP women's branch. What a waste of my efforts. I went door-to-door collecting votes for our President. I will set myself on fire here.