Ahmet Ümit supports protest against minibuses on the Princes' Islands

The protest against the electric minibuses, which IETT has introduced for service on Büyükada and which the islanders have dubbed "azmanbüs," has continued for a week. 

On the 8th day of their protest, a group including residents of the Princes' Islands gathered in front of the Büyükada Clock Tower to voice their opposition to the minibuses that began operating on June 15. They carried banners reading "We do not want azmanbüs for walkable islands," "We want to walk on the islands," "We are resisting for 16 million," "Azmanbüs is illegal on the island," and "Neither battery-powered vehicles nor azmanbüs on the island."

Speaking on behalf of the group, author and Büyükada resident Ahmet Ümit stated that the islanders have been standing their ground for about 8 days, protesting in the hot weather, and that he himself had set aside the novel he was writing to join the demonstration.

Ümit noted that Büyükada, which stands out with its nature, history, and cultural characteristics, is a unique world cultural heritage site, but that it is now beginning to turn into squares like Eminönü, Üsküdar, and Beşiktaş, and that the people who come here are also unhappy.

Expressing that Büyükada belongs not only to those who live there but to everyone living in Turkey, Ümit said, "Why are we opposing this minibus? Because it is inappropriate. This is a protected area. There can be no minibuses here. One cannot travel with these here; it cannot be done. This is a crime."

REMOVE THE MINIBUSES IMMEDIATELY 

Addressing Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Ümit used the following expressions:

"I am calling out from here to the IMM, to Ekrem İmamoğlu, whom I have supported by paying a price. I have supported İmamoğlu everywhere and at all times against the attacks of trolls many times. Give this up. Come to your senses. Do not do this. For everything to be beautiful, decisions must be correct. The decisions taken must lead to beauty. You cannot practice municipal governance against the people, without taking the people into account, and without the participation of the people. Therefore, make your decisions with the people and please keep your promise. You may win votes before history, but you will be condemned before history. A warning from a friend. Come to your senses and remove these minibuses immediately."

Emphasizing that the issue is not just about the minibuses and that the Princes' Islands must be protected in their entirety, Ümit said that they are working to bring the Princes' Islands into the world cultural heritage, and that once they achieve this, the islands will no longer be able to be harmed.

Following the press statement, the group walked through the streets of Büyükada with chants of "We do not want azmanbüs on the island." The group also arrived at the stop area for the electric minibuses, blocked the operation of the minibuses for a while, and then dispersed.