After the clashes in Sur, the cabinet made an urgent expropriation decision on March 25. This decision included the churches in Sur. HDP Istanbul MP Garo Paylan brought this decision to the parliament and asked Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning about the grounds for expropriation and the future of the churches.
The Ministry responded to Paylan's parliamentary question and stated that the churches won't be closed down and destroying the cultural heritage in the region is out of question.
The Ministry reminded the Reconstruction Plan for Protection that was prepared for Sur in 2012 and stated that all renovation and reconstruction work will be done in accordance with that plan.
