Resul Emrah Şahan exposes the government's rent-seeking projects: 'A new Kanal Istanbul' has been thrust into the heart of Şişli

Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, who was arrested as part of an investigation launched into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), has revealed that the government is planning "more than one Kanal İstanbul"-like project in Istanbul. Şahan, who was detained on March 19 and is currently held at Silivri Marmara Prison, detailed in an interview with Çağdaş Bayraktar from the Cumhuriyet newspaper how a plot of land designated as an earthquake assembly area in Şişli was opened up for rent-seeking.

A 72-STORY RESIDENCE ON AN EARTHQUAKE ASSEMBLY AREA: "THE MINISTRY GRANTED ITS OWN PERMIT"

Şahan stated that in his first days in office, he sealed a 72-story residence and shopping mall project that had begun construction on a 24,000-square-meter area behind the Şişli Municipality building and imposed a billion-lira fine. He noted that during this process, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change accepted the findings and revoked the permit, adding, "The Ministry later re-issued the permit it had revoked itself. This area was actually declared a reserve area under the earthquake law. The goal was to make Şişli earthquake-resistant. However, this decision was turned into a tool to enrich certain people."

RENT-SEEKING SCHEME UNDER THE MASK OF "SOCIAL HOUSING" IN ŞİŞLİ

Stating that this project invites disaster in Şişli, where there is less than 1 square meter of green and assembly space per person, Şahan emphasized that 90 percent of the building stock in the surrounding neighborhoods of Kuştepe, Mahmut Şevket Paşa, Yayla, Paşa, and Merkez is at risk. Expressing that the government is misleading the public under the guise of "social housing," Şahan said:

"If you have the intention to build social housing, go ahead and utilize this area. This reserve area in Şişli is very suitable for open space, parking, or building social housing for urban transformation. We owe a debt to Kuştepe. We owe a debt to the people in poor neighborhoods. Let us use this value created by the earthquake law for them."

THE NEW Kanal İstanbul MENTALITY: "A SYSTEM OF CREATING WEALTH AT THE EXPENSE OF THE NATION"

Şahan expressed that this mentality is the same as the one defending the Kanal İstanbul project and that public resources are being used for the benefit of a specific capital group.

Addressing those who say, "We are building social housing, not a canal," Şahan said the real intention is the looting of public lands for capital. "The truth is this clear. There is only one answer: Yes or no? This area is sitting right in the middle of Şişli, just 20 minutes away. Go ahead and walk there, serve the public."

"THE STATE'S INSPECTOR IS LAUNCHING AN INVESTIGATION AGAINST THE ONE DEFENDING THE NATION'S RIGHTS"

Şahan announced that inspectors have requested his defense on allegations of "misconduct in office" because he stopped the project in question. Describing this situation as "ridiculous," Şahan said that inspectors are no longer working for the public, but for the political power's capital.

5 BILLION DOLLARS IN RENT COULD HAVE RENEWED ALL OF ŞİŞLİ

Stating that 5 billion dollars of the 85 billion dollars in rent generated within the scope of the 130 projects announced by İBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu came from Şişli alone, Şahan made the following assessment:

"With this 5 billion dollars, we could have made all of Şişli earthquake-resistant. But what happened? Maybe 10 families got rich. This is a betrayal, a violation of public trust. It was taken from the pockets of the poor and given to the rich. If an earthquake happens, it is the poor who will suffer again."

Finally, Resul Emrah Şahan emphasized that what is happening concerns not only Şişli but all of Istanbul. He stated that his struggle is not personal, but a struggle to protect the public interest and the rights of the people.