Criticism of the Galataport Project from İlber Ortaylı: These acts of banditry must end

Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı, in his article titled "Turkey's coastlines and our nation" in Hürriyet, listed his criticisms of the Galataport Project.

Stating that the project in question is "Unfortunately, a very wasteful use," Ortaylı said, "It is full of luxury restaurants from top to bottom, and it even harms the Kılıç Ali Paşa Mosque and the Nusretiye Mosque. No one can object to the presence of attractive restaurants and cafes, but the fact that the entire coastline is filled with block buildings that look like one another is not, in my opinion, a sound decision."

"THESE ACTS OF BANDITRY MUST END"

Ortaylı continued as follows:

"At the very least, they could have refrained from obstructing the profile created by mosques like Kılıç Ali Paşa and Nusretiye. We have even given up on that; they have caused distress to young people, students, and middle-class people who want to take shelter in a corner of the coast and watch the surroundings. As if this were not enough, a river banquet ship was moored even in front of that narrow area (the Turkish Maritime Organization gave the permit). The biggest disgrace in this matter is that the company operating this restaurant ship also sets aside the pier as 'private' for itself, preventing the public from passing through. These acts of banditry must end; there is no such legal status. In fact, the entire Galataport, that is, the coastline from Karaköy to Tophane, should be open. People should be able to sit there and walk around because there are no places to walk in Istanbul."

Ortaylı expressed his view, saying, "We must open the coastlines to the public as much as possible. Galataport cannot be an exception to this. Likewise, the Peninsula Istanbul Hotel has no authority to close off the front of the hotel in a way that prevents public passage. There is no such law, I draw your attention to this. The matter does not end there. We hope that the Beyoğlu Municipality and all municipalities will continue their efforts."

Congratulating the new mayor of Beyoğlu Municipality, CHP's İnan Güney, Ortaylı said, "He did the right thing as soon as he arrived by prohibiting the ship from docking at the shore. That is what you call a municipality. However, I hope that CHP municipalities on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts will show the same courage."

News Source: 12punto