Local and international news for French expatriates and French speakersHakan, originally from Afyonkarahisar but a Smyrniot for 34 years, grew up in nature, which he appreciates more than anything.This mechanical technician, who suffered a serious accident at work in 2018 at the end of which he found himself with 16% disability, had dreamed for 30 years of living in the countryside, in the middle of a garden and greenery.Once retired, he finally realized his dream in April 2019 by becoming, with his wife Urkiye, owners of a plot of land of 355 m2, acquired for 62,000 TL from the SS cooperative.Yeşil Bahçe Sahil Yapı created in 2017. This little corner that could have become his paradise in Ürkmez, 14 km from Seferihisar and just over 50 km from Izmir, has in fact turned into hell.Hakan and his wife Urkiye in their lovely gardenThe aforementioned cooperative manages the plots installed in four stages.The first is named “Ahmet Beyli”, a second of 24 plots is close to the Hakan land;the 3rd, which includes that of the first-named, has 42 pitches and the latest, a hundred meters from his home, no less than… 159 pitches.On his land comprising 2 trees when he acquired it, Hakan planted about thirty of them (apple tree, mandarin tree, loquat, olive tree, etc.), also carefully developing a very beautiful 100% organic garden including everything you need to healthy food: tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, zucchini, beans, salad, corn,... all with homemade automatic watering perfectly suited to your needs.A few hens also provide some of their needs.Of the 42 plots that make up the “Yeşilbahçe” stage - the green garden - where he has his land, a total of 27 constructions exist, 26 are prefabricated dwellings - movable if necessary -, but considered as houses in view of the law. except that they are not made of reinforced concrete.Lacking more resources, to spend the majority of the year there, Hakan installs a container for which no building permit is necessary... but not related by law to a house but a box, a any object.His “little house on the prairie” is removable and can be moved.With his manual dexterity, he equips this small residence with everything necessary to live happy days there with his wife.And then the trouble begins... The same year, in 2019, following the decision of the Municipal Council of Seferihisar, a town to which Ürkmez is connected, a trial was opened in the Administrative Court against him and 19 other neighbors who built prefabs… 27 ​​homes, but only 20 lawsuits… first misunderstanding for Hakan and the other residents concerned.The reason given by the administration which brought proceedings is “pollution of the area” - imar kirliliği - caused by its container.A first fine of 4000 TL is drawn up in 2019 against Hakan, a sum he pays without flinching.The trial continues with in the end a new fine of 6000 TL demanded by the Public Prosecutor on March 22nd.Hakan struggles to collect this sum… and also pays it.But a few days later, a new blow fell on him!Indeed, he receives the notification of the decision to demolish his small “house in a box” from the town hall of Seferihisar and dated May 6.It is interesting to note that the main character of this story has a fully functioning electric sub-meter, connected to the main meter of the cooperative... and pays his bills to the official network supplier, like any inhabitant of the province of 'Izmir… Part of the necessary electricity provided by the solar energy system set up by him.The water supply, meanwhile, comes from the common well of the cooperative.In addition, it is connected to the Internet network… just as legally.Moreover, and even more astonishing if one tries to fully understand the whole story, the activities of the cooperative are under the control of the State, which sends a representative of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanism to each general meeting.For the time being, following the intervention of the lawyer, the latest decision has been postponed until June 14, 2022... According to the latest news, the court ruled in favor of the judgment on May 26 provisional sentence of destruction for 3 of the owners concerned... The 17 others, including Hakan, are waiting and hoping for an identical decision...A meager hope remains, however: some politicians have suggested that a law on the regulation of pleasure gardens - hobi bahçeler -, likely to change the situation if an amnesty were to concern constructions carried out on such land, could succeed in the next few weeks... but this information is not official...For weeks, Hakan has been devastated, lost sleep and praying for a satisfactory solution for all parties concerned.He is ready to pay taxes like any citizen who owns land if the situation is regularized by the administration.Many questions and misunderstandings have justified, in my eyes, the writing of this article, just to attract the attention of readers who will read this story:In my eyes, Hakan does not pollute nature - there are many other examples of real visual and environmental pollution - but has developed a culture in harmony with current and future needs, given both the economic situation and the need to find healthy and beneficial alternatives for their daily diet.It should be noted that livestock and agriculture have lost a lot of ground in Turkey over the last decade...as in many other countries unfortunately, and recent events in Ukraine have highlighted how necessary it is to find , as far as possible, means for self-sufficiency.Hakan perfectly illustrates for me "Another agriculture is possible" - Başka bir tarım mümkün -, one of the slogans of the metropolitan city of Izmir... Will this be enough to justify the validity of the name, and find together THE solution to avoid smashing your dream?> A glimpse of Hakan's garden https://youtu.be/2KkSgeBNQUcBy contributing, you participate in guaranteeing its quality and independence.Editor-in-chief of the Istanbul edition.Turkey celebrates Hıdırellez, the “spring festival”The Holy Relics or the "Constantinople connection"Wedding season: the "kına gecesi" an essential Turkish traditionOsman Hamdi Bey, an "Orientalist" in the EastWedding season: the "kız isteme", an essential Turkish traditionPavyon or meyhane... Where to drink rakı in Turkey?Wedding season: the "kız isteme", an essential Turkish traditionUnusual insults: the art of swearing in TurkishWedding season: the "kına gecesi" an essential Turkish traditionThe Holy Relics or the "Constantinople connection"Osman Hamdi Bey, an "Orientalist" in the EastDownload our mobile app !