AKP-run municipality demanded a 'large donation'! The doors were eventually sealed

Kitapyurdu, in a statement posted on its X account, indicated that it had received a warning from the municipality in March regarding its campus in Bahçelievler, where it has been operating since 2018, and that licensing procedures were not accepted without the donation requested by the municipality.

The statement from Kitapyurdu is as follows:

"Our institution, which has been engaged in book sales for twenty-four years and is one of the well-known brands in the field of culture and literature, has had its campus in Istanbul's Bahçelievler district sealed on the grounds that our license is incomplete. A large donation is being demanded by the municipality for us to obtain a new license. Despite fulfilling all requirements, this request of ours has not been accepted by the Bahçelievler Municipality, and as a result, we have been forced to suspend our operations.

We have been operating at this campus without any issues since 2018. However, in March of this year, we received a warning from the municipality on the grounds that our campus license was incomplete.

NO DONATION, NO LICENSE

For twenty-four years, we have taken pride in meeting you, our valued customers, in the field of books and culture. As a beloved brand, we act with the awareness of having earned your trust. Despite stating that we meet all requirements, the municipality refuses to process our application without the donation it demands.

We are doing our best to restore our working environment by seeking our rights through legal channels. During this process, there may be delays in the shipment of your orders. We are deeply saddened by this situation and sincerely apologize to you, our valued users. We promise to compensate for the delays.

We believe that with your support, we will overcome this process as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding and patience."

Dear Bookworms,
Our institution, which has been engaged in book sales for twenty-four years and is one of the well-known brands in the field of culture and literature, has had its campus in Istanbul's Bahçelievler district sealed on the grounds that our license is incomplete. For us to obtain a new license, the municipality… pic.twitter.com/YAaE1tkJXl

— Kitapyurdu.com (@kitapyurducom) May 21, 2024

STATEMENT FROM THE MUNICIPALITY

Bahçelievler Municipality issued a statement on its social media account regarding the cancellation of the license of Kitap Yurdu Yayıncılık ve İletişim A.Ş.

The statement read, "The campus of the firm Kitap Yurdu Yayıncılık ve İletişim A.Ş., located on the Basın Ekspres Road within the borders of the Bahçelievler district where it carries out its commercial activities, has been sealed because it did not fulfill its legal obligations during the licensing process."

Addressing the firm's announcement on social media, the statement said, "The announcements and claims made by the relevant firm on social media intended to misinform the public do not reflect the truth. An attempt at character assassination is being made by slandering us with claims that 'They asked for a donation' in order to cover up their own shortcomings."

The statement noted that after the necessary inspections were carried out in 2018, the firm was granted a business opening and operating license as a "Book Distribution Center," adding, "In the inspection conducted on January 17, 2024, it was determined that the workplace had increased its usage area by approximately 2,000 square meters and was also operating a printing house, book printing facility, carpentry shop, and warehouse in addition to the book distribution center. The previous operating license was in the status of a sanitary establishment; printing house, carpentry, and warehouse activities are in the status of unsanitary establishments."

The statement explained that according to regulations, unsanitary establishments must operate in industrial zones and be licensed after inspections and controls are carried out in accordance with the conditions, and that a formal notification was sent to the firm's representative on January 23, 2024, following the detected square meter increase and unsanitary establishment activities.

The statement further noted:

"Despite the 4 months that have passed, the workplace officials have not made an application to our municipality. The operating license in the sanitary status belonging to the workplace has been cancelled in accordance with the Municipal Law and the Regulation on Opening and Operating Workplaces, and a decision to cease operations has been taken regarding the workplace. The actions and procedures taken are in accordance with the law. While the operating licensing conditions for sanitary and unsanitary establishments are clear, and while the sad event in Beşiktaş that cost 29 lives recently remains fresh in our memories, our Bahçelievler Municipality continues its inspections without interruption to ensure that unsanitary establishments are brought into compliance with the law, as part of its responsibility."

News Source: 12punto