Nature in Turkey destroyed for development: Demirtaş

The whole of Turkey is facing environmental destruction for the sake of development, industry and investments, presidential hopeful Selahattin Demirtaş has said, speaking at a bicycle tour with environmentalists in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır on July 23.

Demirtaş, the co-leader of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and its candidate for the Aug. 10 presidential elections, joined a cycling tour to attract public attention to Hasankeyf, a picturesque town on the Tigris River that will be flooded by the Ilısu reservoir when the building of a dam is completed. The event also sought to draw attention to the Munzur River and areas in the Black Sea region that are threatened by the construction hydroelectric power plants, as well as the northern forests of Istanbul, which are at risk due to the ongoing construction of a third bridge over the Bosphorus.

“Nature is being destroyed across the country for the sake of development, industry and investments,” Demirtaş said.

Accompanied by his wife, Başak Demirtaş, and their two children, the presidential candidate told journalists that he would prioritize the protection of nature if he is elected, stressing the president’s “power to intervene for public benefit.”

”If I became the president, I would take steps to halt the Hasankeyf and Munzur [projects], all the unnecessary hydroelectric power plants, all plants that destroy nature and rivers in the Black Sea,” Demirtaş said, adding that it was impossible to improve human rights and foster a culture of democracy before creating a nature-friendly environment.