In Turkey’s capital Ankara, which is controlled by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) municipality, Atatürk Forest Farm (AOÇ) has become the target of AKP again. Ankara Metropolitan Municipality decided to demolish the courthouse in Ankara’s Sıhhiye neighbourhood and build the new one in the territory of Atatürk Forest Farm. This area was given to the municipality on condition that it would be used as a wholesales market.
Tezcan Karakuş Candan, President of Ankara Chamber of Architects, reacted to the construction decision and pointed out the protected status of the site. She said this is unacceptable to build the new courthouse in the area which is used conditionally as a wholesales market and the municipality has no authority to change the rule.
‘ANY CONSTRUCTION IN THE PROTECTED AREA IS ILLEGAL’
The presidential complex, which is 30 times larger than the White House and used by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since 2014, was built inside Atatürk Forest Farm on the outskirts of Ankara. Its construction in the protected area was barred by the courts, so it is regularly referred as the "Illegal Palace” (Kaçak Saray).
Ankara Chamber of Architects President Candan previously told that any construction in Atatütk Forest Farm would be illegal. She also said this would be against Atatürk’s legacy, as it was a national heritage site established and donated by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
