ECO-TURKEY

NEWS FROM THE STRUGGLE FOR A SUSTAINABLE LIVING
Bulletin of Yeşilev, component of Ekoloji Birliği of Turkey 		Issue 3
Feb. 2025
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Ida Mountains:

"We Have Great News!
Halilağa Copper Mine Operation License Is Invalid!"

The Association for the Protection of Ida Mountains' Natural and Cultural Assets is calling on authorized and responsible institutions to immediately stop mining activities!

Despite the resistance of local people and ecological activists, Cengiz Holding's Halilağa Gold Copper Mine had destroyed more than a million trees in the Ida Mountains and construction machinery had turned 520 hectares of land into desert.
(Click for the ECO-TURKEY news)

The Association for the Protection of Ida Mountains' Natural and Cultural Assets filed a lawsuit with the Çanakkale 2nd Administrative Court to cancel the mining operation license of Cengiz Holding's Halilağa Gold Copper Mine Project. The court ruled for a stay of execution against the company.


  We did not bow down to you!
  We resisted, we succeeded!
 

During the trial process, it was understood that the area granted the operating permit was larger than the area where the EIA (environmental impact assessment) was conducted. Thereupon, the decision was taken unanimously.

The Decision May Set a Precedent!

Right after the decision was announced, Hasan Yücel, the Chairman of the Gold Miners Association, made a wild press statement criticizing the decision. However, an important point emerged with this statement: Yücel threatened (!) the public with the possibility that the decision could set a precedent, saying "This decision may close the doors for four thousand mining operations."

Süheyla Doğan, the Chairwoman of Association for the Protection of İda Mountains' Natural and Cultural Assets, stated that this statement revealed how important the court decision was. She spoke as follows, "This statement raises concerns that there may be irregularities in these 4000 permits and licenses that were previously granted. (Ms. Doğan had disclosed the same irregularity in her defense in another case: Click for the ECO-TURKEY news) All mining permits and licenses should be urgently inspected by the relevant official institutions and civil society organizations!"

(Source: Evrensel Jan. 14, 15)