Diyarbakır officials address public space usage in Sur district

Local authorities and the Diyarbakır City Council have issued statements regarding the use of public spaces, specifically sidewalks and streets on Gazi Street in the historic Sur district. The discussions center on the tension between street vendors occupying public walkways and the rights of pedestrians, including women, children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities, to move freely and safely.

Sur Municipality Co-Mayor Fatma Gulan Önkol stated that efforts to manage sidewalk occupations are driven by public complaints. She emphasized that the goal is not to leave vendors without solutions, noting that a commission involving political parties, municipalities, and vendor representatives has been working on alternatives for approximately a year. While previous attempts to establish marketplaces via lottery were made, vendors did not transition to those areas.

The Diyarbakır City Council underscored that public spaces are shared living areas essential to the city's social memory and democratic life. The Council called for policies that balance the livelihood rights of local tradespeople with the necessity of protecting accessible public spaces through fair and sustainable urban planning.