Ağrı Municipality’s Land Sale Sparks Public Outrage: Cultural Heritage Is at Risk!
The decision by the Ağrı Municipality to put the site of the former municipal movie theater in the Leylekpınar neighborhood up for sale for 70 million TL has sparked public outcry. Citizens, criticizing the decision to put one of the city’s most central locations up for sale rather than using it for cultural purposes, described the move as “a blow to the future.”
This article was translated automatically from Turkish. Türkçe orijinal ›
The Ağrı Municipality has put up for sale a plot of land in the Leylekpınar neighborhood that was previously used as the Ağrı Municipal Cinema and was demolished on the grounds that it was a structurally unsafe building.
With the approval of Ağrı Mayor Hazal Aras, the estimated price for the lot—designated as a “6-story commercial area” in the zoning plan—has been set at 70 million 50 thousand TL, and the provisional deposit at 2 million 101 thousand TL. Following the announcement of the tender, scheduled for August 22, 2025, this decision sparked significant controversy in the city.
“THE CITY’S FUTURE IS BEING SOLD”
The decision to put the plot—located in one of Ağrı’s most central areas—up for sale has been characterized by citizens as the “destruction of cultural heritage.”
While many residents of Ağrı had hoped the area would be repurposed as a cultural center, a youth center, or a social project, they view the decision to sell it as “unplanned and contrary to the public interest.”
In the backlash, which has also resonated on social media, the question “Municipal resources are running out—so what will happen tomorrow?” has come to the forefront.
“NOT A SALE, BUT AN INVESTMENT IS NEEDED”
Meanwhile, citizens argued that the municipality’s rapid disposal of its valuable real estate would harm the city in the long run.
“We’ll have to buy this plot back to build a new cultural center,” said a group of Ağrı residents, calling on Mayor Hazal Aras to focus on permanent public investments rather than the sale. Especially in light of past allegations of corruption involving the municipality, it is noted that this sale raises questions regarding transparency and intent.
“NO MAYOR HAS EVER SOLD IT, BUT HAZAL ARAS IS SELLING IT”
Some citizens stated, “While no mayor has ever sold such a valuable plot of land, Hazal Aras is running the municipality by selling land,” and demanded that the sale decision be immediately revoked and that the land be used for the public good.
