Courts grant motions for stay of execution for Akbelen forest

"The decision is given; stop now, Limak" - Photo: Twitter account of "İkizköy İnsanca Yaşam için Direniyor" (İkizköy is resisting for a humane life)

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In the lawsuits filed against the cutting of trees in the Akbelen Forest in Muğla's İkizköy in Milas, the administrative courts have granted motions for stay of execution. The decision of "No Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is necessary" has also been cancelled.

Keeping a watch in the forest for the past 28 days, the people of İkizköy have welcomed the decisions given by the Muğla 3rd Administrative Court and the Muğla 1st Administrative Court. While the former has given a decision of stay of execution for the EIA Exemption for the Integrated Facility, the latter has halted the execution of the cutting of trees.

In a social media message shared by the "İkizköy is resisting for a humane life" account, it is said, "We are happy about the decision. But this is just the beginning. No stop until we get rid of the thermal trouble."

What happened?

The Akbelen Forest in Muğla's Milas was cut down in order to provide the Yeniköy Kemerköy Thermal Power Plant operated by the LİMAK Holding with lignite. The villagers of İkizköy, where the forest is located, have been waging a struggle in the face of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry permission to open a lignite mine in the 740-decare Akbelen Forest.

Villagers and environmentalists sued the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the General Directorate of Forestry by applying to the Muğla 1st Administrative Court. Receiving the defense of the administration, the court ruled for an expert examination in the forest.

Not waiting for the court ruling, the Directorate General of Forestry came to the forest with excavators on July 17 and started cutting trees. In response, the people of İkizköy filed a criminal complaint against the officials of the Directorate General for "misconduct in office."

The cutting of trees stopped thanks to the struggle of the villagers who put up tents and started keeping watch at the entrance of the forest.

The villagers' watch is still ongoing. (NÇ/DŞ/SD)