![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MSOMFPLPXPNQD5BW72BKT6LIPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8cb1addce74a2a583228c04b5eeed04ecb594982e359a80b621fd390df761d3e&width=400&height=225)
An overhead view of a toxic lake produced by waste from Yatagan thermal power plant, in Mugla province, Turkey. Yatagan power plant says its operations are carried out under supervision of the relevant Turkish ministries. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZQ7X4ROWMZSZX6C5RPTJWGICD4.jpg?smart=true&auth=149350e17a6e2344849c8ac60aca41a3c019f0239d44e93348ac188e8527f16b&width=400&height=225)
Tayyibe Demirel, who is refusing to sell her olive grove to coal mining companies, is pictured among her olive trees in Turgut village, near the south-western town of Yatagan, in Mugla province, Turkey. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K4MIMJF5FC3RGEK2T4RUMJ7WLQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a7729fbeb2339870f5d80fde7944a3b02816be503bb45a6e21126d8eea33e56c&width=400&height=225)
Tayyibe Demirel picks wild greens in her olive grove in Turgut village near Yatagan, Mugla province, Turkey. village. She is a part of "No Coal Mugla" local movement to stop coal mining expansion. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZDMXWZVWEGHBZGRUNK4YTR4GKA.jpg?smart=true&auth=b16e83769f2525e16b29e10bbba3217b3351b0b825e4d43ed41fcd12fd2b45d3&width=400&height=225)
Tayyibe Demirel tends livestock on her land in Turgut village, Mugla province, Turkey. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NPNSGSKY3MQJR5NWQ5ZCAPDSAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1915a702b6e6b3942b655e4ba2c38bf458659e4b06db4b74ac8c510a75d69186&width=400&height=225)
Tayyibe Demirel talks with a mining company official in her olive grove, in Turgut, Mugla province, Turkey. She has won a court case against the expansion of an open-pit coal mine towards her village. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OYHKBWSD756GOMJQ2TGVFOBRO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c38dcf9d0221e3e555135beff5203a1f2e808f363c6867b10d987ccb07ea0b3&width=400&height=225)
A placard that reads "We want a Mugla without coal", hangs in Isikdere neighbourhood of Ikizkoy village, near the south-western town of Milas, in Mugla province, Turkey. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F2FY5MF32FGEZIWJBNYE7CUJCQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=fdc51ab1335c35ba365f3b3293101fd28c18a6d3d81bd192a56906e5f36db624&width=400&height=225)
Environmental consultant Deniz Gumusel talks with Aytac Yakar, from Ikizkoy village, near Milas, in Mugla province, Turkey. Ms Gumusel claims pollution from coal power plants in the region has caused the death of 45,000 people in 40 years. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W5RE6I3GKH2XQFEWOTY7F5M4HU.jpg?smart=true&auth=cfa163aaf9e271e3deb166529ed4a7f6a8ea6b5eeec7abc1b28e0c5aed35d6b0&width=400&height=225)
An olive tree stands near the temple of Hecate in the ancient town of Lagina, near Turgut village, at Yatagan, in Mugla province, Turkey. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TPICBR5MDPP7HPCZT2U6FWM4GI.jpg?smart=true&auth=aeb2ace8a55f2ce1e5e41b454149c419bd37a6a442f5dca9b7c1a0ab58984124&width=400&height=225)
Tayyibe Demirel who is refusing to sell her olive grove to coal mining companies, walks up the stairs of the temple of Hecate in the ancient town of Lagina, near Turgut village, in Mugla province, Turkey. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/33NEDSJWNGLN4V75KY6GORN7O4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3a6987c6d09c5dd7973d3eac411e53ca0af79afd6da24aa4de31777720d0e2a&width=400&height=225)
Tayyibe Demirel rests on the roadside in Turgut village, near Yatagan, in Mugla province, Turkey. She fears a coal mine will end up surrounding her six-acre olive grove. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D36NT6EY6UVP2M3RHTUSPH5UIA.jpg?smart=true&auth=314ac6b5f999b360b96e980227cb3d755d1443dd27b20f94c53228013adcbab5&width=400&height=225)
Tayyibe Demirel stands in her olive grove and views the nearby open pit coal mine at Turgut village, near Yatagan, in Mugla province, Turkey. 'Three or four years ago, this demolished land was full of tulips, poppies and daisies,' she said. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S6LDIP4NJ62DJ556JNNEJAVS2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=280cad51d41115d3bd7c43e985fe4ba00b02a526053a83b27861dd1a8b22f25b&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view of an open-pit coal mine near Turgut village, near Yatagan, in Mugla province, Turkey. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MWFIOGFZ2GUD556LS44KSNACD4.jpg?smart=true&auth=29b721fc049ea98ef68c2a27c6d4ab1a9a23b14744c04b1ebb196da24b91ee42&width=400&height=225)
Smoke rises from Yatagan thermal power plant, in Mugla province, Turkey. Five villages have disappeared as mines serving the power station have expanded, and Turgut is now threatened. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/245K6YQTJDHTIXVXX3LLLOHNGQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ab8e59a22ccff01fda17a0bce13340775e1f6657f39e8f1adc69f1af6ac9941&width=400&height=225)
Abandoned houses and a mosque of Isikdere neighbourhood of Ikizkoy village, near Milas, in Mugla province, Turkey. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DQXZA27XCQBDWC32P3WWEVHKAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=9314cd8fe6969ede947a275baf91841509a52095f2b1ec86f559a6173eb55eca&width=400&height=225)
A toxic lake and ash dam produced from waste from Yatagan thermal power plant, in Mugla province, Turkey. Yatagan power plant says it has planted more than 1.5 million trees in the region and that its operations respect the environment. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MSOMFPLPXPNQD5BW72BKT6LIPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8cb1addce74a2a583228c04b5eeed04ecb594982e359a80b621fd390df761d3e&width=400&height=225)
An overhead view of a toxic lake produced by waste from Yatagan thermal power plant, in Mugla province, Turkey. Yatagan power plant says its operations are carried out under supervision of the relevant Turkish ministries. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZQ7X4ROWMZSZX6C5RPTJWGICD4.jpg?smart=true&auth=149350e17a6e2344849c8ac60aca41a3c019f0239d44e93348ac188e8527f16b&width=400&height=225)
Tayyibe Demirel, who is refusing to sell her olive grove to coal mining companies, is pictured among her olive trees in Turgut village, near the south-western town of Yatagan, in Mugla province, Turkey. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K4MIMJF5FC3RGEK2T4RUMJ7WLQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a7729fbeb2339870f5d80fde7944a3b02816be503bb45a6e21126d8eea33e56c&width=400&height=225)
Tayyibe Demirel picks wild greens in her olive grove in Turgut village near Yatagan, Mugla province, Turkey. village. She is a part of "No Coal Mugla" local movement to stop coal mining expansion. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZDMXWZVWEGHBZGRUNK4YTR4GKA.jpg?smart=true&auth=b16e83769f2525e16b29e10bbba3217b3351b0b825e4d43ed41fcd12fd2b45d3&width=400&height=225)
Tayyibe Demirel tends livestock on her land in Turgut village, Mugla province, Turkey. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NPNSGSKY3MQJR5NWQ5ZCAPDSAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1915a702b6e6b3942b655e4ba2c38bf458659e4b06db4b74ac8c510a75d69186&width=400&height=225)
Tayyibe Demirel talks with a mining company official in her olive grove, in Turgut, Mugla province, Turkey. She has won a court case against the expansion of an open-pit coal mine towards her village. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OYHKBWSD756GOMJQ2TGVFOBRO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c38dcf9d0221e3e555135beff5203a1f2e808f363c6867b10d987ccb07ea0b3&width=400&height=225)
A placard that reads "We want a Mugla without coal", hangs in Isikdere neighbourhood of Ikizkoy village, near the south-western town of Milas, in Mugla province, Turkey. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F2FY5MF32FGEZIWJBNYE7CUJCQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=fdc51ab1335c35ba365f3b3293101fd28c18a6d3d81bd192a56906e5f36db624&width=400&height=225)
Environmental consultant Deniz Gumusel talks with Aytac Yakar, from Ikizkoy village, near Milas, in Mugla province, Turkey. Ms Gumusel claims pollution from coal power plants in the region has caused the death of 45,000 people in 40 years. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W5RE6I3GKH2XQFEWOTY7F5M4HU.jpg?smart=true&auth=cfa163aaf9e271e3deb166529ed4a7f6a8ea6b5eeec7abc1b28e0c5aed35d6b0&width=400&height=225)
An olive tree stands near the temple of Hecate in the ancient town of Lagina, near Turgut village, at Yatagan, in Mugla province, Turkey. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TPICBR5MDPP7HPCZT2U6FWM4GI.jpg?smart=true&auth=aeb2ace8a55f2ce1e5e41b454149c419bd37a6a442f5dca9b7c1a0ab58984124&width=400&height=225)
Tayyibe Demirel who is refusing to sell her olive grove to coal mining companies, walks up the stairs of the temple of Hecate in the ancient town of Lagina, near Turgut village, in Mugla province, Turkey. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/33NEDSJWNGLN4V75KY6GORN7O4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3a6987c6d09c5dd7973d3eac411e53ca0af79afd6da24aa4de31777720d0e2a&width=400&height=225)
Tayyibe Demirel rests on the roadside in Turgut village, near Yatagan, in Mugla province, Turkey. She fears a coal mine will end up surrounding her six-acre olive grove. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D36NT6EY6UVP2M3RHTUSPH5UIA.jpg?smart=true&auth=314ac6b5f999b360b96e980227cb3d755d1443dd27b20f94c53228013adcbab5&width=400&height=225)
Tayyibe Demirel stands in her olive grove and views the nearby open pit coal mine at Turgut village, near Yatagan, in Mugla province, Turkey. 'Three or four years ago, this demolished land was full of tulips, poppies and daisies,' she said. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S6LDIP4NJ62DJ556JNNEJAVS2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=280cad51d41115d3bd7c43e985fe4ba00b02a526053a83b27861dd1a8b22f25b&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view of an open-pit coal mine near Turgut village, near Yatagan, in Mugla province, Turkey. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MWFIOGFZ2GUD556LS44KSNACD4.jpg?smart=true&auth=29b721fc049ea98ef68c2a27c6d4ab1a9a23b14744c04b1ebb196da24b91ee42&width=400&height=225)
Smoke rises from Yatagan thermal power plant, in Mugla province, Turkey. Five villages have disappeared as mines serving the power station have expanded, and Turgut is now threatened. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/245K6YQTJDHTIXVXX3LLLOHNGQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ab8e59a22ccff01fda17a0bce13340775e1f6657f39e8f1adc69f1af6ac9941&width=400&height=225)
Abandoned houses and a mosque of Isikdere neighbourhood of Ikizkoy village, near Milas, in Mugla province, Turkey. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DQXZA27XCQBDWC32P3WWEVHKAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=9314cd8fe6969ede947a275baf91841509a52095f2b1ec86f559a6173eb55eca&width=400&height=225)
A toxic lake and ash dam produced from waste from Yatagan thermal power plant, in Mugla province, Turkey. Yatagan power plant says it has planted more than 1.5 million trees in the region and that its operations respect the environment. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MSOMFPLPXPNQD5BW72BKT6LIPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8cb1addce74a2a583228c04b5eeed04ecb594982e359a80b621fd390df761d3e&width=400&height=225)
An overhead view of a toxic lake produced by waste from Yatagan thermal power plant, in Mugla province, Turkey. Yatagan power plant says its operations are carried out under supervision of the relevant Turkish ministries. Reuters
Turkish grandmother battles to save olive farm from encroaching coal mine - in pictures
The 64-year-old activist is part of a local movement to stop coal mining expansion in south-western Turkey
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The National
10 March, 2021
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