Ankara metropolitan municipality, governed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), amended municipal council's decision on the protection of Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of Republic of Turkey.
Tezcan Karakuş Candan, the chairperson of the Chambers of Architects Ankara branch, issued statements on the new reconstruction plan around Anıtkabir.
The previous municipal council's decree dated 11.05.2016 maintained the expropriation of privately owned land around Anıtkabir to integrate them with the heritage site. This plan has recently been cancelled by Ankara metropolitan municipality. Another change regarding the reconstruction plan concerns the demolishment of Anıtkabir guard squad for a 12 thousand square meters construction. The parking space is also designated as a military space in the new plan.
Candan explained that the new plan is not transparent in terms of its city planning techniques. She noted that any kind of plan regarding Anıtkabir should be consulted to related chambers, universities and the society. She underlined that under no circumstances Anıtkabir can be considered as a military barrack or a housing space, but a heritage space to be protected. Arguing that the purpose of Ankara municipality is quite clear, Candan said that they aim to devalue and disgrace this publicly esteemed place of the founder of the Turkish Republic. She said that they have every right not to trust those who decided to demolish historical sites of the republic and demanded the immediate share of planning maps with the public opinion.
