April 8 is the International Roma Day, the day to raise awareness on the issues facing the Roma people regarding their rights and culture. It’s time to bring attention to the discrimination that continues to faces the Roma people all around the world. I took the liberty to share a few comments and observations on the Sulukule of Istanbul, one of the oldest Romani settlements in Europe, and what’s happened there on 2009.Turkish government officials and especially the municipality of the area (Fatih) did repeatedly show their dissent with the condition of Sulukule. In 2008, Turkish PM Erdogan declared that they are saving Sulukule from its freak condition, and this historical residence will be structured as a modern and civilized place. Finally, Sulukule was basically razed to the ground in May 2009 as part of an urban gentrification project. Roma people got kicked out of their houses and environment, and government offered them low-rent places. Low-rent is a relative term though. Most of the Roma people were getting the benefits of solidarity within Sulukule. On the other hand, after government pushed them out of the city and night life, it became really hard for them to make money, considering that being a musician was one of the main means of existence for the community.
It was true that condition of the buildings were not really good, however, this was not only a profit-based urbanization project let alone being a restoration. Roma people are always discriminated by Turkish state, police forces and government officials, and that was mostly the reason behind the poor state of Sulukule. The place had been the target of police for more than 10 years. Sulukule was a cultural centre with entertainment houses, in which belly dance shows and music were provided and it was far from a crime scene. However, the “brown citizens”, as it’s been described in the publications of Turkish Ministry of Culture, were never welcomed within the municipality. The municipality officers never planned to address the poverty in the area, and then top it all off the police terrorized the entertainment houses by raids, and one of the main means of existence for the Roma people ceased to exist.
Now, there the “modern” and “civilized” residences rise in the area. Although Roma people tried really hard to stop this gentrification project, they never had enough support from the public. They were already in the blacklist! Sulukule is destroyed and forgotten now, at best it’s only a beautiful memory. However, there is still a chance to compensate Roma people for what they have been through, and this is one thing we should never forget.
Now, there the “modern” and “civilized” residences rise in the area. Although Roma people tried really hard to stop this gentrification project, they never had enough support from the public. They were already in the blacklist! Sulukule is destroyed and forgotten now, at best it’s only a beautiful memory. However, there is still a chance to compensate Roma people for what they have been through, and this is one thing we should never forget.
Yusuf Yuksekdag
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