Elderly woman resists construction at a park in northwestern Turkish city

EDIRNE – Anadolu Agency

The 75-year-old was protesting a construction permit given for the green space, which has been used as a playground for 18 years. AA Photo

A 75-year-old woman has stopped construction at a local park in the northwestern province of Edirne by sitting in front of the bulldozer.

Accompanying a group of local protestors in the 1.Murat neighborhood in Edirne, 75-year-old Kıymet Peker protested a construction permit given for the green space, which has been used as a playground for 18 years.

The former mayor and municipal assembly had given permission for the construction of a commercial building at the park, as well as an asphalt road near the park, neighborhood resident Süleyman Sır said, vowing to apply to authorities to prevent the construction.

Recep Gürkan, who was elected on March 30 as the new Edirne mayor according to the unofficial results, went to the area to lend support to the protesters, also sitting in front of the construction equipment.

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) candidate promised to solve the issue as soon as the vote was officially confirmed. “The park will not be demolished as long as I'm the mayor,” Gürkan vowed.

“I will sit here as long as I am the mayor of this city. I defy this bulldozer to come and demolish [the park],” he added.

The bulldozer left the area after Gürkan spoke with the contractor company and the group.