The neighborhoods of Alipaşa and Lalebey in UNESCO world heritage site of Sur, a central district in Amed city, were previously placed under an expropriation decree. Demolition as part of the expropriation by the state will begin on May 2.

For two days, announcements are being made from three mosques in Sur, ordering people to “evacuate your houses until May 1”.

According to the announcement that is made in line with the district governor's instruction, power and water will be cut in the neighborhoods of Alipaşa and Lalebey this Saturday, 29 April.

In the ancient Sur district, which has been home to human civilization over the past 7 thousand years, six neighborhoods within the protected urban area were razed to the ground in a massive destruction during the 'curfew' and siege that began in December, 2015 and lasted months. Thousands of houses, workplaces, historical sites and worship places have been destroyed during the bombardment and artillery shelling of the district for 100 days. 70 percent of the buildings in the eastern part of the district were systematically destroyed by shelling. The destruction continued even after the "security operations" ended, reaching a peak during the month of August 2016.

23.000 people out of the 50.000 in Sur had to move to Bağlar and other districts of Amed. Research shows that 52% of the people displaced by war have their residence completely or partially demolished, and 20% don’t even have information on the situation yet. 30% of the people lost their jobs after the displacement. 64.8% want to return, 30% has already returned. 94.5% are against the expropriation, but the AKP government disregarded the people and “expropriated” an area of 6.300 parcels, they now continue demolition at full speed. The Amed Bar Association’s appeal to overturn the urgent expropriation decree was refused by the Council of State 6th Chamber.

There is social and economic destruction as well as cultural in Sur. During the ban, Sur suffered some 600 million liras of financial losses. Hundreds of shops were closed due to the curfews, clashes and the ensuing siege and many businesses have gone under. When the economic crisis due to the escalating war was added to the mix, the economy is now almost over in Sur.

As the demolitions continued at full speed, the state settled Syrian refugees in Sur in the place of the people who had to migrate because of the war. Preparations were made for the Syrians settled in Alipaşa, Melikahmet, İskenderpaşa, Süleyman Nazif, Ziya Gökalp, Lalebey, Abdal Dede, Cami Kebir and Cami Nebi neighborhoods to vote in the April 16 referendum. The people of Sur protested the presence of many Syrians in the lists sent to the neighborhoods and said that this was the plan all along.