“The Gulf is Dying” Protest in Didim, Turkey

In Aydın’s Didim, citizens protested against the pollution of the sea due to sewage water, claiming that Akbük Bay was dying. Environmentalists organized a demonstration and made a press statement, highlighting that Akbük Bay was being polluted by wastewater and was beginning to die.

Protesters alleged that a hotel in the same area was endangering public and environmental health by discharging sewage into the historical “Soğuksu” (Cold Water) spring, which dates back 2,500 years. Local residents recorded the situation with their phones and organized a protest in the area.

Hotel Guests Also Use the Beach

Around 500 people gathered on Akbük Beach, chanting slogans such as “Don’t Touch My Air, Water, and Soil” and “Akbük is Ours, We Won’t Allow Its Pollution.” They carried banners that read, “End the Sewage System, the Environment is Our Responsibility and Our Children’s Inheritance, Don’t Swim at the Soğuksu Beach for Your Health.”

Protesters claimed, “This hotel discharges sewage and dirty water into Akbük’s sea through pipes at certain hours. Even the hotel’s own guests swim at this beach. Our children swim here too. We’ve noticed strange things on our bodies, and we wondered if it was from the sea. Now we’re sure. We leave those responsible, both those who laid these pipes and the authorities who remained silent, to God’s judgment.”

The Gulf is Dying

In a statement made on behalf of Akbük Environmental Components, following was shared:

– “We can’t even use the tap water to wash our vegetables and fruits. Like every citizen, we must protect both our water and our sea, our bay. We thank everyone who is working to prevent the pollution of Soğuksu and the bay in Akbük.

– Environmental and life problems have unfortunately spread throughout the country, and we are all trying to protect our living spaces. The greatest strength in these efforts comes from the unity we show. We urgently want the completion and activation of the sewage infrastructure. We call on all responsible public institutions to take action before the problems in the area reach a critical level.”

The protest ended with slogans such as “Akbük is Ours, It Will Remain Ours,” applause, and whistles. It was announced that protests would continue until the issue was resolved and the gulf was saved.