Water cannons used on Turkey environmental protesters

STORY: Paramilitary police equipped with riot gear surrounded the woodland area in Mugla province where activists set up their camp to stop the felling of trees.

Environmental campaigners have been protesting in southwest Turkey for five days since clearing of the forest began. Dozens have been detained in clashes with the police.

In 2020, the forestry ministry granted permission to Turkish company YK Energy to expand the mine in 780 acres of forest in the Akbelen area. The court has not yet ruled on a lawsuit filed by locals challenging these permissions.

Locals sought an injunction and started a vigil in the forest in 2021. However, a court lifted a stay of execution in 2022 and an official from one of the companies involved said there was no legal obstacle to their actions.

Activists says the Akbelen forest will be totally destroyed by July 31 if the deforestation continues.