IMM's dormitory solution blocked by AKP and MHP council members' rejection votes

CHP council members requested the reclamation of four dormitory buildings that were allocated during the AKP era with a motion submitted on October 10, 2022. 

According to a report by İsmail Arı from BirGün; it was stated that the buildings used by the Turkey Youth Foundation (TÜGVA), where Bilal Erdoğan is an executive, in Üsküdar; the Ensar Foundation in Çatalca; the Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi Foundation in Kadıköy; and the İlim Yayma Foundation in Eyüpsultan belong to the IMM.  

The following statements were included in the motion, which drew attention to the need for dormitories:

THE AIM WAS TO PROVIDE DORMITORY SERVICES TO STUDENTS

“As the IMM administration, we place special importance on the development of student dormitories. We know that the dormitory service we provide to our youth is even more important in these days when the economic crisis deeply affects everyone living in our country. In the new term, the IMM administration aims to ensure the upbringing of youth with free minds and free consciences. As a public institution, the IMM is fulfilling one of its most fundamental duties by filling the gap left by the government in this area. In this context, we request that our proposal be included in the council agenda in order to ensure the return of IMM properties, which were allocated to certain foundations and associations by council decision in past terms, back to the IMM and to provide dormitory services to our students.” 

REJECTED BY AKP AND MHP VOTES

AKP council members, on the other hand, claimed that “the buildings are still being used as dormitories, that the foundations and associations operate for the public benefit, and that the actions taken by the municipal administration to cancel the allocation procedures have been overturned by court rulings.”   

CHP Council Member Filiz Öztürk Çelik reacted to the rejection of the motion. Çelik said, “A file that has been waiting for about a year has been rejected. In the proposal, we said, ‘Give us back the allocated dormitories, let us operate them.’ On the first day he took office, IMM President İmamoğlu said, ‘Our priority is not to serve individuals, groups, communities, foundations, or associations. That era is over. We are now starting the era of serving the people of Istanbul.’ This dormitory business is the government's job. As the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, we are trying to cover the government's shortfall. This government managed the IMM for 25 years, and how many dormitories did they build? Zero. Now, the IMM under CHP administration has 14 active dormitories.”

News Source: 12punto