Nejla Işık

Nejla Işık is a Turkish environmental activist and community leader who has been involved in efforts to prevent deforestation in the Akbelen Forest. She was elected as the mukhtar of İkizköy in 2024 and was recognized internationally for her role in environmental advocacy.

Career Işık emerged as an environmental activist and community leader in İkizköy. She became involved in the resistance against deforestation of the Akbelen Forest, which had been allocated for coal mining activities by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to supply nearby power plants, such as Kemerköy or Yeniköy. This resistance, known as the Akbelen Resistance, began in 2017 as the forest faced threats from expanding mining projects.

In 2019, Işık, alongside other activists, started a watch to prevent deforestation. Their efforts included legal action and protests. By 2023, the movement experienced intense clashes with authorities and the mining company, including fines and other deterrent measures. Her leadership has been marked by continued activism, including public speeches advocating for the preservation of local natural and cultural resources. Esra Işık was detained and charged with insulting public officials and obstructing their duties. Her defence said that she did not know the people were officials and did not physically obstruct them.