Historical wreckage in a 500-year-old madrasa: 12punto captures the current state of the madrasa converted into former Health Minister Fahrettin Koca's hospital

The Sultan Selim Madrasa, built 500 years ago by the great genius Mimar Sinan, whose works transcend the ages, has been converted into the Medipol Vatan Clinic, a hospital owned by former AKP Health Minister Fahrettin Koca. Unthinkable changes have been made to the historical structure. In the 16th-century cultural heritage site, which 12punto visited and examined on-site, there are pipes covered with black duct tape and columns surrounded by aluminum joinery.

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Historical wreckage in a 500-year-old madrasa: 12punto captures the current state of the madrasa converted into former Health Minister Fahrettin Koca's hospital

Beste Çelik / 12punto.com.tr

12punto has obtained images of the destruction inflicted upon the Yavuz Selim Madrasa, which is on the world cultural heritage list and was built in 1550 by the Ottoman Empire's chief architect, Mimar Sinan.

The madrasa, commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566) in memory of his father, Yavuz Sultan Selim (1512–1520), is located in Istanbul's Fatih district, at the intersection of Vatan Avenue and Oğuz Han Avenue.

The 500-year-old madrasa was converted into the Medipol Vatan Clinic, a hospital belonging to former AKP Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, who served between 2018 and 2024, during the term of former Health Minister Recep Akdağ, who served from 2002 to 2013.

That clinic continues to operate through restoration works that have stripped the historical structure of its entire identity.

THE CURRENT STATE OF THE HISTORICAL MADRASA

When the structure is examined, the betrayal of history and cultural values is laid bare for all to see.

Heating systems with cables protruding are running over the portico tension rods, which are set on stone piers in front of the madrasa cells and feature domed drums.

Air conditioners are used inside the building, which was heated by fireplaces in the past.

The color of the stones in the dome of the madrasa, which was built from cut limestone and brick in places, has also been altered.

Inside the historical structure, there is a shack made of facade cladding material.

The historical stone structure is being haphazardly covered with similar materials, and cables hang from the doors that were used as cells 500 years ago.

To connect the historical vertical column to the glass surface, it has been plastered and surrounded by dark brown aluminum joinery. The white pipes protruding from the cell windows are covered with black duct tape. Cables can be seen hanging from various points of the structure.

It is evident that the stone walls of the unique historical structure have been covered with drywall. Furthermore, holes and door connections have been created in the walls of the historical monument, which was built from natural stone. The fact that the floors have been covered with tiles is simply unbelievable.