Court grants visa for cyanide gold threat in Küçük Menderes

With the tender held by the General Directorate of Mining and Petroleum Affairs (MAPEG) on February 19, 2026, the field covering Kemer, Yılanlı and Dokuzlar neighborhoods located within the borders of Ödemiş and Kiraz districts, IV. The group was sold to Ahlatçı Altın İşletmeleri A.Ş. as a mining area. Local people filed a lawsuit against the mining project, which will be built on a huge area of ​​1562 hectares, demanding the cancellation of the license under the leadership of Küçük Menderes Resisting Platform and environmental associations.

In the case heard at Ankara 24th Administrative Court, the court panel unanimously rejected the request to suspend the execution of the tender process. In its decision, the court stated that the conditions for a stay of execution, "the occurrence of irreparable or impossible damages" and "the administrative action being clearly unlawful", were not met.

“IT WILL CAUSE IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE”

Following the decision, Küçükmenderes Environment, Culture and Art Association (KüMen-Der) executives stated that the decision of the judiciary was only an interim decision and that the case for annulment on the merits was continuing and that they would not give up the fight. KüMen-Der President Servet Ali Çınar emphasized that the cyanide gold mining planned in the region will cause irreparable wounds in nature. Çınar said, "A possible mine in these mountains will destroy everything in Bozdağ, cripple agricultural production and the livelihood economy of the villagers. It will damage the agricultural and cultural heritage that needs to be preserved on-site." Drawing attention to the danger of drought awaiting the Küçük Menderes Basin, Çınar said that the water resources of the region are under great threat. Çınar said, "In this period when the climate crisis is getting more severe and the drought is increasing in the Küçük Menderes Region, it will also pollute and destroy the water resources that are vital for life in the region. The damages of the mine will be felt as far as the Pamucak coast."

"WE WILL NOT ALLOW PLOYAGE"

Stating that the people of the region will continue to defend their forests and agricultural lands against the companies, Çınar said, "Mining companies do not give up, and we will not give up resisting. Bozdağ is ours. There is no giving up on the struggle to protect nature. The land, air and water are ours; we will never allow our basin to be plundered."