İlber Ortaylı: 'You have destroyed the heart of Istanbul, these are the fruits of ignorance'

Historian Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı was a guest at a talk held at the Zal Mahmut Paşa Complex, organized by the Eyüpsultan Municipality as part of its Ramadan events. 

Answering questions from young people, Ortaylı offered advice and made observations about the city.

Advising young people to get to know their surroundings, Ortaylı said, "There are gaps in the minds of the Turkish intelligentsia. They are like people who have just woken up from sleep, unable to find which side they are on. We will come to our senses, but let us not do it under pressure from others. It turns out very badly. That is why you should learn while you have your wits about you. And that comes through history and geography. Not knowing geography is illiteracy. Even a person who cannot read or write knows some geography. But it is impossible for them to understand the globe system and the rotation of climates, it is simply impossible." said. 

'INSTEAD OF NONSENSICAL HOTELS...'

Regarding how urban planning should be, Ortaylı stated, "Instead of nonsensical hotels, there should be more meaningful, functional cultural centers. The city should have a proper concert hall. It should have an opera house. There should be theaters and galleries around it. Otherwise, the railway will not function either, just as it did not function in Sirkeci. All of these are important." 

'THESE ARE THE FRUITS OF IGNORANCE'

Pointing to the change in Istanbul over the years, Ortaylı added, "Istanbul has become very crowded. In this crowd, Eyüpsultan does not remain. Rami does not remain. It is a magnificent 18th-century barracks. Now it has been turned into a national library. Many structures have also been demolished. You have destroyed the heart of Istanbul to create a criminal zone of uncertain nature. Times may be changing, you will change yourselves too. These are the fruits of ignorance," he said. 

News Source: AA