Illegal shorefront constructions demolished in central Istanbul

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

Hürriyet Photos

Several illegally constructed cafes and restaurants on the shoreline of a market place in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district were demolished early on June 22.

A demolishing team from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality bulldozed a number of workplaces including restaurants and cafes at the seaside of Perşembe Bazaar, located in the rapidly changing Karaköy neighborhood of Beyoğlu. 

The Istanbul Police Department’s anti-riot police forces took security measures around the area, while the municipal police emptied all workplaces before starting the demolition.

Firefighters, medics and water cannons were also present at the scene as precautionary measures.

Trees in the area are reported to have been damaged by one bulldozer as it demolished a cafe. The demolition also left behind unsightly piles of rubble.


“We are not against demolishing illegally constructed places. But [the demolishing team] dug up the land next to the coast. It also brought down around 15 trees. There had been dozens of trees and flowers in flowerpots. What they did is despicable,” said Serhat Süren, a shopkeeper in Karaköy. 

Bülent Akgül, whose fish restaurant was demolished, said he had asked the municipality for a certificate to legally run his business but his request was rejected. 

“I have been a restaurant owner for 25 years. I had around 20 tables. I was asked to evacuate [my restaurant] on June 20. I had 10 employees, but now all of us are jobless,” Akgül said.

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality said in a written statement that its municipal police department demolished illegally constructed cafes and restaurants at around 03:00 a.m. on June 22 on the seaside of Perşembe Bazaar in Karaköy.