Home > Current Affairs News > İmamoğlu's 'Basilica Cistern' outcry: The latest example of the government's 'I did it, so it is' arrogance and inability to accept election losses

İmamoğlu's 'Basilica Cistern' outcry: The latest example of the government's 'I did it, so it is' arrogance and inability to accept election losses

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has reacted to the transfer of the Basilica Cistern from the İBB to the General Directorate of Foundations, following an amendment to the Law on Foundations in the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

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İmamoğlu reacted to the transfer of the Basilica Cistern—which was restored by İBB Heritage and opened to both local and foreign tourists—to the General Directorate of Foundations through a law passed in Parliament.

Reminding that this situation also occurred with the Galata Tower, Gezi Park, Beykoz Social Facilities, Beşiktaş Pier, and the Theodosius Cistern, İmamoğlu criticized the government's policy with the words: "The Basilica Cistern has become the latest example of the government's 'I did it, so it is' arrogance, its inability to accept losing elections, and its insolence in trying to put voters in their place."

İMAMOĞLU EXPRESSED HIS REACTION IN A POST WITH THE FOLLOWING WORDS

"The Basilica Cistern has become the latest example of the government's 'I did it, so it is' arrogance, its inability to accept losing elections, and its insolence in trying to put voters in their place. 

The title deed of the Basilica Cistern, one of the most precious treasures of this city, which was meticulously restored by İBB Heritage and opened to millions of visitors, has been registered in the name of the General Directorate of Foundations without any legal or conscientious basis. 

They have done the same thing they did when they signed off on illegalities regarding the Galata Tower, Gezi Park, Beykoz Social Facilities, Beşiktaş Pier, and the Theodosius Cistern. 

Unfortunately, the legal battle we have been waging for the Galata Tower since 2019 also yielded no results because the rules were changed while the game was still in progress. 

They passed a law in Parliament, and while the lawsuit was ongoing, they used the restoration work carried out by the foundations with drills and jackhammers as a justification for seizure. 

There is a clear picture here:

If a decision to 'seize' has been made;

they neither listen to the law, nor observe justice, nor heed the public conscience. 

They change the law if necessary,

They change the judge if necessary,

And in the end, they seize the property they have set their eyes on. 

But let everyone know this: These decisions are not final.

The final decision is made by the nation."