State Council Approves Sulukule Repeal

Istanbul 4^th Administrative Court had cancelled the Sulukule project in April 2012 declaring it to be against the public weal. Fatih Municipality had applied to the State Council for the issue of a stay order.

In August 2013 the State Council’s 14^th Chamber had rejected the municipality’s request.

The State Council has now approved Istanbul 4^th Chamber’s annulment decision as to the accusations.

However Fatih Municipality had prepared a new project in August 2013 before the State Council verdict even arrived, and the preservation board had approved this project.

Attorney Hilal Küey told bianet that both the Chamber of Architects and they filed a lawsuit against the second project on behalf of Sulukule residents, and that that lawsuit is ongoing.

Küey said that they would point out in their defense that there is no difference between the preliminary project the court rejected and the newly prepared preliminary project.

Timeline

Sulukule, which encompasses Neslişah and Hatice Sultan Neighborhoods, was declared an urban transformation zone in 2006 by a cabinet decision.

A long-lasting street struggle began. The World Heritage Committee interpreted the project as "social exclusion, appropriation of urban rent and gentrification".

Demolitions began May 2009 in Sulukule, but the court did not issue a stay order. After Sulukule was transferred in May 2010 to Özkar Construction, constructions began with Turkey's Public Housing Administration (TOKİ).

All but two of the 300 families that went from Sulukule to the TOKİ housing in Taşoluk, came back to Karagümrük after experiencing “financial difficulties”.

Because a stay order was not issued in the court process, TOKİ and Özkar Construction built the villas in historic Sulukule have already been sold. (NV/PU)

Click here to read the article in Turkish