Grand Bazaar shopkeepers protest price hikes: Occupation fees skyrocket

Shopkeepers at Istanbul's Grand Bazaar are protesting the Fatih Municipality's decision to raise occupation fees to between 8,000 and 15,000 TL per square meter by turning off their shop lights every day at noon.

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Grand Bazaar shopkeepers protest price hikes: Occupation fees skyrocket

Shopkeepers at the Grand Bazaar, one of Istanbul's historic landmarks, are voicing their opposition to the occupation fee hike implemented by the Fatih Municipality.

The municipality has placed shopkeepers in a difficult position by increasing occupation fees from 900 TL to a range of 8,000-15,000 TL, depending on the location of the shops.

PROTESTS CONTINUE DAILY

Following the hike, shopkeepers have been staging protests by turning off their shop lights every day at 12:00 PM. Spice Bazaar shopkeepers, noting that their own occupation fees are between 700-900 TL per square meter, are also demanding that the new hike be reviewed.

MUNICIPAL POLICE OPERATIONS CONTINUE

Last month, the Fatih Municipality Municipal Police Department took action to regulate occupations at the Grand Bazaar.

As part of the efforts, warnings were issued to shopkeepers who exceeded the designated boundaries in front of their shops. Additionally, identification work was carried out for shops that did not have an occupation registration.