The Sur Obstruction Prevention Commission held a press conference at Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality’s service building to address pavement obstructions and the impact of street vendors on pedestrian access in the Sur district. The meeting was attended by Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Emin Ay, district municipality co-mayors and representatives of the Sur Obstruction Prevention Commission, who shared details of their joint work with the public.

Alternative Solutions to Avoid Adversely Affecting Local Traders

Speaking at the meeting, Sur Municipality Co-Mayor Gulan Önkol said the authorities were responding to complaints from residents, women and people with disabilities.

“Our aim has never been to deprive people of their livelihoods, remove their stalls or leave them without an alternative solution,” Önkol said.

New Market Project as Part of Sur’s Pedestrianisation

Önkol explained that some steps had not yielded results due to limitations on the municipalities’ powers and the inability to obtain approval from relevant bodies, including the Cultural Heritage Preservation Board.

Noting that traders had not moved to alternative market sites established in recent months, Önkol announced that a new tourist neighbourhood market project was being developed as part of the policy to pedestrianise Sur, taking into account the severe poverty affecting the area.

‘Channels for Consensus and Dialogue Have Remained Open’

In a statement issued on behalf of the Sur Obstruction Prevention Commission, it was noted that over the past five months the commission had held one-to-one meetings with local traders, community leaders, neighbourhood representatives and council members.

The statement stressed that channels for dialogue and negotiation had been kept open to prevent possible provocations. It also emphasised that the consent of different sections of the community had been sought, with social peace remaining a key consideration.