Operation in Kadıköy: Streets under blockade, venues sealed
Following a massive operation in Kadıköy involving hundreds of police officers, armored vehicles, and drones, numerous venues were sealed, and raids extending to the homes of business owners have raised the question: 'Is the real target Kadıköy's social life?'
12punto
The repercussions of the massive operation conducted in Kadıköy on the evening of April 25, accompanied by numerous police officers, armored vehicles, and drones, continue to be felt. While the official justification was stated as 'narcotics trafficking,' the raids—which resulted in the sealing of venues and the searching of even ordinary citizens on the street—have sparked concerns that the true target of the operation is Kadıköy's free social fabric and lifestyle.
It is noteworthy that the operation, conducted by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, which saw 107 people detained and over 90 arrested, was treated only as a superficial public order news item in the mainstream media.
However, in the background, images of sealed doors reflected on social media and accounts from venue owners suggest that the event is much more than an ordinary judicial case.
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Kadıköy is one of Istanbul's most important cultural and social centers, where luxury consumption and mall culture have not yet taken over, and where young people and families spend time safely from morning until midnight. Therefore, entering such a major living space with hundreds of police and special operations units, as if capturing a 'fortress of crime,' has led to interpretations that the region is being deliberately criminalized.
The nature of the raids and the points they targeted form the basis of claims regarding "interference with lifestyle":
The use of armored vehicles and police dogs in raids on entertainment venues, small shops, and the bazaar placed not only business owners but also ordinary citizens passing by or sitting in venues in the position of potential suspects.
Although the justification was 'narcotics trafficking,' the fact that 'illicit alcohol' inspections were conducted by entering the alcohol storage areas of venues and using barcode scanning methods created suspicions that the real intention of the operation was to squeeze the entertainment sector.
The fact that not only workplaces but also the homes of business owners were raided, followed by the sealing of many popular venues and the termination of their commercial activities, has created a serious element of pressure on Kadıköy tradespeople.