The first messages started circulating last week. Ali (all those mentioned by first name have requested anonymity) received hers on Thursday, January 30, Emel, a neighbor, the following day, and Serkan, on Monday. All in all, according to testimonies gathered in the southern Turkish province of Hatay, devastated by the earthquake of February 6, 2023 and now in the midst of reconstruction, around 100 villagers were astonished to discover from their phones, in the Turkish civil registration application, that they had been dispossessed of their land. Some even learned that their homes had also been seized.

The announcement was delivered in a brutal manner. It was understood that the decision had been taken by the environment and urbanization ministry to transfer ownership of the land to the state-owned TOKI agency, which is responsible for the construction of mass housing. Founded in 1984 to alleviate the lack of low-income housing and curb the spread of informal settlements, the agency has become the most powerful player and developer in the country's land and real estate sector since the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power two decades ago. In Hatay, its four capital letters are omnipresent.

You have 77.75% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.