Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Serra Bucak attended a panel organised at the Diyarbakır Promotion, Culture and Solidarity Foundation (DİTAV) within the framework of the “Tribute to Gabriel” exhibition, held in memory of Albert Louis Gabriel. Highlighting the protective and constructive role of local governments, Bucak stated that they would propose naming the Tek Beden Bastion — saved from demolition by Gabriel — after him.
As part of the Amida Academy gatherings, the panel at DİTAV was moderated by Şeyhmus Diken, with Co-Mayor Bucak and Dicle University Vice-Rector and Zerzevan Castle Excavation Director Prof. Dr. Aytaç Coşkun as speakers.
Co-Mayor Bucak: We Must Speak of Transformation and Revision
Drawing attention to their willingness to take part in such events where they can have a say in the city’s present and future on behalf of the Metropolitan Municipality, Co-Mayor Bucak said: “As our authority and responsibilities increase, we must also speak of a structural change, transformation and revision corresponding to these responsibilities. We have long been engaged in a process in cooperation with local mechanisms and civil society.”
“We Are Fortunate He Came to This City”
Co-Mayor Bucak highlighted the importance of archaeologist Gabriel’s contributions to the city, saying:
“It is fortunate that Gabriel came to this multicultural city in 1932 and entrusted the Diyarbakır Walls to us. Since the early 2000s, the city has built a legacy of protecting this heritage. We do not consider our cultural heritage only within the scope of Diyarbakır. The fact that we know so little about our heritage and fail to protect it is in fact interconnected. The geography we call Mesopotamia is where the story of uninterrupted life, communities, first discoveries and the first wheat, stretching back to the Neolithic, began. Excavations at the Çayönü-Ergani settlement, dating back to 9,000 BC, are still ongoing. This is the reason why all of us are rooted here, and why in our lives and fields of expertise we are connected to this land. Thanks to esteemed scholars like yourselves, and many others, the Diyarbakır Walls have been revived; the story of our heritage has been brought to light.”
“Without Embracing These Stories, We Cannot Connect with Our Roots”
Recalling the demolition process of the walls in 1932, Co-Mayor Bucak said:
“At that time, the governor began demolishing the walls under the pretext of epidemics and that the city could not breathe. Out of 101 bastions, 98 remain standing today, but bastions 3, 4 and 6 were demolished until Gabriel intervened. These untold stories, unless embraced, remain as one of the greatest issues of this country — a reality where people are not allowed to connect with their own roots. Armenian, Syriac, Kurdish… the memory of these lands is being ignored.”
“Cultural Heritage”
Co-Mayor Bucak underlined that even today the importance of protecting cultural heritage is not sufficiently conveyed in many parts of Turkey. She said:
“Yet local governments are the guardians and builders of everything in a city, from its cultural heritage to its daily life. We are carrying out a series of meetings to ensure stronger protection of humanity’s common heritage, particularly the Diyarbakır Walls and Hevsel Gardens, which are no longer only the heritage of Amed but of all humanity. We are also working with the Ministry, the Site Management Authority, and preparing studies to present to UNESCO delegations when they visit from time to time. Without a broad civil commission, a city is left without guardianship. We want to expand this ownership.”
Co-Mayor Bucak also noted that they would propose naming the Tek Beden Bastion, which Gabriel saved, after him. She added that the Metropolitan Municipality should have a voice within the Site Management Authority and that the city should be shaped together with its own dynamics.
Prof. Dr. Aytaç Coşkun spoke about Gabriel’s life story and work, highlighting his contribution to the city’s cultural heritage. He also mentioned the support of the Metropolitan Municipality in preserving and showcasing the city’s cultural assets, and expressed gratitude for the Zerzevan Castle Visitor Welcome Centre put into service by the Municipality.
The panel concluded with a Q&A session.
