The ancient Sur district of Amed is one of the most important cultural heritage areas of the region with its historical and cultural richness dating back thousands of years. Sur, which contains many historical structures belonging to Islam, Christianity and other faiths, has great value not only for the region but also for the entire world with its rich cultural heritage. Sur was added to the World Cultural Heritage List by UNESCO on 4 July 2015, a confirmation of the historical and cultural importance of the region recognized at an international level. However, the events that have occurred in the Sur district in recent years show that this unique heritage of the region is in danger.

Demolition of historical structures and deterioration of social fabric

With its traditional Amed houses, narrow stone-paved streets and still-living folk culture, Sur offers a mosaic where different beliefs and cultures live together peacefully. The Grand Mosque is revered as the fifth Haram-i Sharif of the Islamic world, while the Church of the Virgin Mary is one of the important symbols of the Syriac Orthodox faith. However, the clashes that occurred in Sur in 2015 and 2016 as a result of the demand for autonomous government, the state's war response, and the subsequent state of emergency, developed as a process aimed at destroying and damaging this rich heritage to a great extent.

Following the state of emergency, the historical structures of Amed and the people living in Suriçi were forcibly displaced. According to a report previously prepared by the TMMOB Amed Branch regarding the period, the demolition process in Sur accelerated immediately after the lifting of the state of emergency bans.

Following the announcement by the Turkish Ministry of Interior on 9 March 2016 that operations in Sur had ended, satellite images showed that the demolition process in Suriçi had accelerated on 10 May 2016. New satellite images emerged on 16 August indicating that the demolition had spread further.

On 11 July 2017, the areas where the structures were built were identified using satellite images. The TMMOB report indicated that the number of registered structures that were demolished was 47, while it was noted that 247 structures worthy of registration were subject to demolition. During this process, important structures such as the Armenian Catholic Church, Mehmet Uzun’s House, Cumhuriyet Primary School, and Zincirkıran Tomb were also completely or partially demolished. These demolitions are not only a physical loss but also an indication of the erasure of the cultural and historical memory of the region.

The extent of destruction

Before the demolition of the structures within the Walls, the authorities of the Cultural Protection Board were transferred to the Environment and Urbanization Directorate. This change led to a random demolition without consulting UNESCO. In addition, it was determined that the historical stones extracted in the region were sold in an organized manner, and that special stones of some registered structures were used in different structures.

The sale of stones resulted in the collection of stones in certain areas and the acquisition of serious profit. As a result of the connivance of state officials, many historical stones and artefacts were destroyed. The stolen stones later appeared in different places in the city. Although the intense attitude of the city dynamics in Amed stopped some demolitions, the destruction of the memory of the past continued. This situation, exposed with evidence by the TMMOB Amed Branch, has been accepted by state institutions.

Construction of new buildings with prison architecture

Following the demolition in Sur, a zoning policy that completely ignored the cultural identity of the region was adopted. What is particularly striking is that the architecture of the new structures built after the destruction of the historical fabric was designed in a style reminiscent of the Diyarbakır Type E Prison. This prison architecture is completely contrary to the original structure and history of Sur, and not only destroys the cultural and social fabric of the region, but also opens deep wounds in the memory of the local people as a form of punishment.

UNESCO's warnings and Turkey's response

UNESCO warned Turkey about the demolition and new construction in Amed Sur at its 45th Extended Session held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, in 2023.

The UNESCO session stated that the demolition of registered structures, archaeological excavations, the relocation of the people and the disruption of the social fabric, which made agricultural activities in Hevsel Gardens impossible, caused the loss of outstanding universal values.

UNESCO stressed that, in accordance with Article 172 of the World Heritage Convention, any intervention that could affect the outstanding universal value of the area must be notified to UNESCO in advance. Turkey's failure to inform UNESCO about the demolition and construction works carried out in the buffer zone has caused serious criticism in the international arena. In addition, UNESCO called on Turkey to immediately stop these projects, but despite this call, concrete work in the field is still insufficient.

Attacks on the cultural identity of Sur

The Tigris River, Hevsel Gardens and the structures within Sur stand out as areas that affect each other and also contain separate problems. While illegal sandpits and other destruction in the Tigris River disrupt the ecological balance of the region, the superior universal values ​​in Hevsel Gardens are also negatively affected by this destruction.

New structures built within Sur that do not match the cultural identity and architecture of the city pose the danger of changing the socio-cultural structure of the region. This change also leads to the deterioration of the street texture and neighborhood culture. As a result of the evacuation of six neighborhoods, agriculture in Hevsel has become impossible, while ecological destruction and land occupation deepen this process.

Assimilation policies and the erasing of Kurdish identity

The destruction experienced in Amed Sur is not only considered as physical destruction, but also as a systematic attack on the cultural identity of the region. This process can also be read as the systematic erasure of the Kurdish identity and culture. These policies carried out through usurping trustee administrations also aim to destroy the historical and cultural fabric of the region. The erasing of art, culture and local identity is developing as a part of the assimilation policies of the region.

In this context, despite UNESCO's warnings, the construction works carried out by Turkey in Sur and the policies that destroy the cultural identity of the region continue to attract the attention of the international community. While the Sur district of Amed, as an area bearing the traces of civilizations spanning thousands of years, requires the preservation of not only its physical structures but also its cultural and historical memory, Turkey's current policies aim to erase the historical identity of the region instead of protecting these values.

Amed city dynamics show that Turkey has serious problems in cultural heritage management regarding this process experienced in Sur and that the international community should follow this issue more closely. It shows that UNESCO and other international organizations should take more effective measures against these destructive policies of Turkey and that more efforts should be made to ensure the protection of the historical and cultural riches of the region. Otherwise, the cultural and religious riches that have existed in Amed Sur for centuries may face irreversible destruction.