'Pit of hell': Turkish mum, daughter lead fight against coal mine

Agence France-Presse · AFP · 2026-11-06 15:53 UTC

Near her village in southwestern Turkey, Nejla Isik walks through what remains of the devastated Akbelen forest, pausing to stare down at the coal mine...

Near her village in southwestern Turkey, Nejla Isik walks through what remains of the devastated Akbelen forest, pausing to stare down at the coal mine that is devouring the hillside.

"We call it the pit of hell," muses the 48-year-old activist and local leader of Ikizkoy village, which has 70 homes.

When COP31 begins Monday in Antalya, the United Nations climate summit's host Turkey is hoping to show off its best side with a campaign focused on renewable energies and electrification.

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