Rental road to Galata Tower opens

akptook steps to purchase the historic Galata Tower, one of Istanbul’s most important monuments, from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) without being prevented from doing so by the judiciary. To this end, a clause was added to the bill on the stock market prepared by the AKP deputies, which required the transfer of all cultural property in possession of the municipalities to the General Directorate of Foundations. It was stated that if the proposal accepted by the Parliamentary Committee on Industry becomes law, Istanbul’s historic buildings such as the Galata Tower, Gezi Park, the entrance structure to the Basilica Cistern and the Talat Pasha Mansion will be taken from the IMM under the administration of the CHP and transferred to the Foundations without being hindered by the judiciary.

TURGEV, ENSAR CONCERN

Criticizing the regulation in commission, CHP MPs said they were concerned that if the proposal were enacted in its current form, critical historical monuments, especially the Galata Tower, could be leased to associations or foundations such as TÜRGEV, TÜGVA and ENSAR. for a long time right before the elections.

The article, which is included in the bill on organized industrial zones with implicit expressions, establishes that all foundations and cultural assets that have been owned by municipalities and public institutions will be transferred to the Foundations. The CHP deputies, who made a proposal to remove the article from the proposal, said: “With this proposal, it is intended to continue the privileges granted to foundations such as TÜRGEV, TÜGVA or ENSAR through the cultural real estate foundations under the responsibility of municipalities, especially after the loss of local governments by the AKP”. In the justification, it was also stated that more than 50 real estate properties were transferred to Vakıflar before the 2019 local elections.

It is claimed that the aim is to pave the way for the Galata Tower to be leased to associations or foundations such as TÜRGEV, TÜGVA and ENSAR.

The court will be deactivated.

2019 When the administration of the IMM was handed over to the trustee due to the objections to the elections, the Galata Tower was hastily taken from the municipality and registered in the name of the Kule-i Zemin Foundation. After the elections were won for the second time, the IMM sued and suspended the execution of the decision. However, later the Galata Tower was attached to the Ministry of Culture. When IMM recaptured the historic building on the shore of the Golden Horn, which was taken from it by the same method, with a court decision, it set a precedent for Galata Tower and Gezi Park. If the law is approved, the court will also be disabled.