Tepecik, located in Mamak, Ankara, Turkey ghetto neigbourhood of old times is a ghost town now. In 1960s, people coming from different regions of Anatolia, majorly consisting of poor Alevis, started a life here with an act of solidarity and collective work. Until 2011.


In 2011, Ankara Municipality has decided on implementation of a legal decision containing urban transformation plans on five neighborhoods including Tepecik and the municipality started the evacuation process in the neighbourhood. This process made local municipalities pay for properties to deed-owners and forced out the rest. Reason being the construction of mass house projects, most of property owners had to move out either by being paid or even losing all because of not possessing a deed. The municipality, who destructed some part of houses to left them inhabitable, aimed to make people leave their homes. Tepecik, which is home to few people now, turned out to be a desolate neighbourhood formed by ruins.


2018.


An abandoned house.

Ali; a holy figur and leader for Alevis.

An elderly woman and photo of her deceased son.

Tepecik.

A boy in the neighborhood.

A destroyed house and mass houses.

Tepecik.

Afghan girl portrait on the wall of an abandoned house.

Tepecik.

Tepecik.

An elderly couple.

Historical leader of the Republic of Turkey, Atatürk's portrait.

Mass houses.

A young man and his mom who live in Tepecik.

Tepecik.

Tepecik.

Men are playing okey game in coffeehouse.

A night of Tepecik.

Young boys are sitting in front of fire.

An abandoned house.

A man who is sitting on the street.

A cow in front of the wreck.

Tepecik's bus.

Tepecik.

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