Speaking at the 32nd Ordinary General Assembly of the City Council, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayors Serra Bucak and Doğan Hatun underlined that a proper balance between conservation and use can only be achieved through a participatory and transparent approach.

The 32nd Ordinary General Assembly of the Diyarbakır City Council was held at the Çand Amed Culture and Congress Centre under the chairship of Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayors—who also serve as Co-Chairs of the City Council—Serra Bucak and Doğan Hatun, with “Hevsel Gardens and the Ten-Eyed Bridge” on the agenda.

In addition to Co-Mayors Serra Bucak and Doğan Hatun, attendees included DEM Party Diyarbakır MP Serhat Eren, CHP Diyarbakır MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu, co-mayors of district municipalities, representatives of civil society organisations, City Council components, and local residents.

Co-Mayor Bucak: ‘We Want to Grow a Shared Common Mind in This City’

Delivering the opening remarks of the assembly, Co-Mayor Serra Bucak drew attention to the strong turnout, saying: “We honestly did not expect such a robust participation on a weekday and during working hours. I apologise to all colleagues who are still standing, but it is truly valuable that we are together here today.”

Stating that the purpose of the meeting was not merely to identify problems, Co-Mayor Bucak continued: “In this city, through the issue of Hevsel Gardens and the Ten-Eyed Bridge, we want to develop a shared common mind. Without excluding anyone, by safeguarding everyone’s rights, we want to talk together and produce solutions together.”

‘Hevsel Gardens Are a Truth That Sustains This City’

Highlighting the historical and social significance of the Hevsel Gardens, Co-Mayor Serra Bucak said the area is not only a heritage site but also a living space of production. “Hevsel Gardens carry a truth that has sustained this city not for centuries, but for millennia. Those who live there, produce there, and continue to do so today know this best,” she said.

Emphasising that residents of Sur, those who work in Hevsel, and the city as a whole must be key stakeholders in the process, Co-Mayor Bucak stated: “Everyone who was born in Sur, grew up there, lived there, or has engaged in production in Hevsel has a strong bond with these places. At the same time, everyone who sees themselves as part of this city of two million also has the right to have a say.”

‘This Meeting Is About Empathy and Coming Together’

Saying they viewed the general assembly as a ground for empathy, Co-Mayor Bucak continued: “We are holding this meeting to understand one another, to listen, and to come closer. Together with our people, our local administrations, our professional chambers and civil society, we will discuss what the Tigris, Hevsel and the Ten-Eyed Bridge mean to us.”

Co-Mayor Bucak also drew attention to the importance of the demands of residents who earn their living in the area, adding: “We will listen to the proposals of our residents who run businesses there, who have family land there, and who have made a living through their labour for years. We will act with an approach that does not disregard their demands, but seeks solutions together.”

‘We Will Not Use Language That Harms Anyone’

Emphasising that discussions must be conducted on a constructive footing, Co-Mayor Serra Bucak said: “We will not, in any way, adopt an attitude that wears one another down or undermines one another. At the end of this discussion, we should be able to say, ‘I’m glad we listened to each other.’ Even if we do not reach an outcome, we must grow our hope for an outcome together.”

Co-Mayor Bucak also thanked members of the press, noting that the meeting was held in a transparent and participatory environment.

‘Diyarbakır Has a Tradition of Solving Its Problems Together’

Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun drew attention to Diyarbakır’s multi-voiced and diverse character, stating: “Diyarbakır has always solved its problems by coming together, with all its colours and voices.”

Saying that the main purpose of today’s meeting was to generate solutions, Co-Mayor Hatun continued: “Our criticisms should not be for the sake of tearing down, but for producing solutions. Here, we have created a space where everyone can express their views freely.”

‘We Will Repair Together the Damage Caused by the Trustee Period’

Referring to the eight-year trustee period, Co-Mayor Hatun said: “During this period, many of the city’s problems spiralled out of control. Today, we have come together to put these issues back in order.”

Recalling previous experiences related to Sur and the area around the Ten-Eyed Bridge, Co-Mayor Hatun added: “In the past as well, the city’s institutions came together and produced shared solutions on what was right for the city. Today, we are following the same method.”

‘No One Will Lose Out; No One Will Be Victimised’

Addressing the situation of businesses around the Ten-Eyed Bridge, Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun said: “There is no hostility here. We do not want anyone to lose out, nor do we want anyone to be victimised. Let our tradespeople speak; let our institutions carry out their assessments within the UNESCO World Heritage framework; and let us find a solution together.”

Emphasising that no one should leave the meeting feeling hurt or resentful, Co-Mayor Hatun added: “Neither our institutions, nor our tradespeople, nor the people of Diyarbakır… Everyone should leave this process satisfied.”

‘This Is a Place for Solutions’

Co-Mayor Hatun concluded: “We will move forward based on the roadmap we determine here today. The people of Diyarbakır have always solved their problems together. If we resolve this issue with this method, I believe we will also solve other problems with the same approach. This is a place for solutions.”

‘This Heritage Cannot Be Protected Without Local Democracy’

DEM Party Diyarbakır MP Serhat Eren stated that the Hevsel Gardens and the Ten-Eyed Bridge are part of the shared cultural heritage not only of Diyarbakır but of the world. He underlined that the matter is multi-dimensional—going beyond an environmental issue to encompass cultural heritage, local democracy and international responsibility.

Eren said the area suffered serious damage during the trustee period, noting problems such as tree-felling, illegal construction and the destruction of agricultural land. He added that they had submitted numerous parliamentary questions on these issues to date, yet the problem has become increasingly complex.

Stressing that a solution is only possible through collective wisdom and participatory mechanisms, Eren said the Site Management Plan approved by UNESCO in 2014 should be updated and re-implemented; illegal structures should be removed without delay; and the Tigris River should be granted a special protection status. Pointing to the importance of meaningful local participation in the process, Eren said: “This city is not without guardians. Protecting the Hevsel Gardens and the Ten-Eyed Bridge is not possible unless local democracy is put into practice—so long as the voice of the people of Diyarbakır is reflected in governance.”

‘We Must Protect This History Together’

CHP Diyarbakır MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu also welcomed the strong public interest shown in the City Council meeting, stating that City Councils are among the most legitimate platforms for local and place-based democracy. Noting that the Hevsel Gardens and the Ten-Eyed Bridge constitute a heritage of many millennia, Tanrıkulu said:

“These places are not only of today; they are history itself. We must create a shared ground that both protects cultural heritage and archaeology, and safeguards the rights of residents who live and work there. Considering Diyarbakır’s population of two million and the millions of visitors who come to the city every year, this is our shared future—and it is all of our responsibility to protect that future through consensus.”