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| Turkey's giant construction projects fuel anger of Istanbul residents | Turkey's giant construction projects fuel anger of Istanbul residents |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Almost a decade ago Emine Demir, 30, and her family chose to settle in Istanbul's rundown but central Tarlabaşı district, selling water and tissues on Taksim square to buy a small flat. It was a decision she has come to regret bitterly. | Almost a decade ago Emine Demir, 30, and her family chose to settle in Istanbul's rundown but central Tarlabaşı district, selling water and tissues on Taksim square to buy a small flat. It was a decision she has come to regret bitterly. |
| Her building, along with 278 others, has been placed under demolition orders. When it is gone, the plan is for a new gated community for Istanbul's wealthy, complete with offices, hotels and shopping centres. The poor will be gone. The rich will move in. | Her building, along with 278 others, has been placed under demolition orders. When it is gone, the plan is for a new gated community for Istanbul's wealthy, complete with offices, hotels and shopping centres. The poor will be gone. The rich will move in. |
| "They promised us that nobody would be victimised. But they victimised all of us," she said. "They threw all of us out into the street. What are laws in Turkey worth if they allow this?" | "They promised us that nobody would be victimised. But they victimised all of us," she said. "They threw all of us out into the street. What are laws in Turkey worth if they allow this?" |
| Tarlabaşı is just one of the many redevelopment projects under way in Istanbul. About 50 neighbourhoods are earmarked for demolition and renewal, and 7.5bn Turkish lira (£2.6bn) was set aside for Istanbul's public development projects in 2012 alone, according to the Istanbul metropolitan municipality mayor, Kadir Topbaş. | Tarlabaşı is just one of the many redevelopment projects under way in Istanbul. About 50 neighbourhoods are earmarked for demolition and renewal, and 7.5bn Turkish lira (£2.6bn) was set aside for Istanbul's public development projects in 2012 alone, according to the Istanbul metropolitan municipality mayor, Kadir Topbaş. |
| Projects like these, as well as several other gargantuan development schemes, have fuelled the anger of hundreds of thousands of Turks against the prime minister in the past week, confronting Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with his biggest challenge in a decade. The week-old rebellion on the streets of dozens of cities is being staged by protesters who feel that the prime minister is not listening. | Projects like these, as well as several other gargantuan development schemes, have fuelled the anger of hundreds of thousands of Turks against the prime minister in the past week, confronting Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with his biggest challenge in a decade. The week-old rebellion on the streets of dozens of cities is being staged by protesters who feel that the prime minister is not listening. |
| In projects worth tens of billions, the government wants to give Istanbul a new airport, the world's biggest. Erdoğan wants to cut a new canal on the European side of Istanbul linking the Black and Marmara seas. He recently broke the ground for the construction of a new bridge spanning the Bosphorus. He wants to build a new mosque, bigger than the ancient ones that decorate Europe's fastest-growing city. | In projects worth tens of billions, the government wants to give Istanbul a new airport, the world's biggest. Erdoğan wants to cut a new canal on the European side of Istanbul linking the Black and Marmara seas. He recently broke the ground for the construction of a new bridge spanning the Bosphorus. He wants to build a new mosque, bigger than the ancient ones that decorate Europe's fastest-growing city. |
| "Erdoğan speaks about his Istanbul projects. But should he not tackle all of our problems first before talking about a new airport, a new bridge, a canal, two entire new satellite cities?" asked Demir. | "Erdoğan speaks about his Istanbul projects. But should he not tackle all of our problems first before talking about a new airport, a new bridge, a canal, two entire new satellite cities?" asked Demir. |
| "First listen to the people, to what they have to say. Speak about personal freedoms, unemployment and poverty first, and then about giant construction projects." | "First listen to the people, to what they have to say. Speak about personal freedoms, unemployment and poverty first, and then about giant construction projects." |
| The building boom is part of Erdoğan's political and economic strategy. There are plans for two entire new cities, each of a million people, on either side of the Bosphorus. But it was another development project, the demolition of a city centre park to make way for another shopping centre, a kitschy replica of an Ottoman military barracks, that was the trigger for the protest that has escalated nationally and is now targeted at the person of the prime minister. | The building boom is part of Erdoğan's political and economic strategy. There are plans for two entire new cities, each of a million people, on either side of the Bosphorus. But it was another development project, the demolition of a city centre park to make way for another shopping centre, a kitschy replica of an Ottoman military barracks, that was the trigger for the protest that has escalated nationally and is now targeted at the person of the prime minister. |
| "Linking the whole economy to the construction sector is very problematic," says the urban activist and academic Yaşar Adanalı. "It turns a city into something that is supposed to generate profit without taking into account the needs of the city and the people." | "Linking the whole economy to the construction sector is very problematic," says the urban activist and academic Yaşar Adanalı. "It turns a city into something that is supposed to generate profit without taking into account the needs of the city and the people." |
| Not everyone is unhappy, however. Two years ago, Nedim Demirel, 50, having been displaced from Tarlabaşı, decided to move into a flat offered to him by the Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKI), a government body that provides low-cost flats for sale but no rented housing. He will have to pay 500 lira a month for the next 15 years, plus bills. | Not everyone is unhappy, however. Two years ago, Nedim Demirel, 50, having been displaced from Tarlabaşı, decided to move into a flat offered to him by the Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKI), a government body that provides low-cost flats for sale but no rented housing. He will have to pay 500 lira a month for the next 15 years, plus bills. |
| "After 15 years, I will be a house owner," he says. "And it's nice in Kayaşehir, quiet and clean." | "After 15 years, I will be a house owner," he says. "And it's nice in Kayaşehir, quiet and clean." |
| The immaculate yellow, beige and orange high-rises of Kayaşehir, a satellite city development one and a half hours from central Taksim square, look like cardboard models against the horizon. | The immaculate yellow, beige and orange high-rises of Kayaşehir, a satellite city development one and a half hours from central Taksim square, look like cardboard models against the horizon. |
| It is the biggest satellite development in Turkey, with 65,000 flats being built. Once the project is completed, the population of Kayaşehir is expected to total 400,000 people. Schools, clinics, mosques, supermarkets, police stations and recreational areas cater to residents' needs. In the centre of the development, a currently semi-empty shopping centre will host 172 shops and restaurants, offices, a hotel and a multiplex cinema. | It is the biggest satellite development in Turkey, with 65,000 flats being built. Once the project is completed, the population of Kayaşehir is expected to total 400,000 people. Schools, clinics, mosques, supermarkets, police stations and recreational areas cater to residents' needs. In the centre of the development, a currently semi-empty shopping centre will host 172 shops and restaurants, offices, a hotel and a multiplex cinema. |
| But for many, taking on the mortgage required to buy a house in a TOKI development is a risk that can easily end in homelessness – especially if one holds an insecure job and has no regular monthly income, as is the case for many former Tarlabaşı residents. | But for many, taking on the mortgage required to buy a house in a TOKI development is a risk that can easily end in homelessness – especially if one holds an insecure job and has no regular monthly income, as is the case for many former Tarlabaşı residents. |
| In a chain restaurant next to the local Imam Hatip secondary school, a group of teenage boys crowd around a table, smoking and drinking tea. | In a chain restaurant next to the local Imam Hatip secondary school, a group of teenage boys crowd around a table, smoking and drinking tea. |
| "This is the only place to hang out here," says Yavuz Selim, 17. "And everything is very expensive. As students we cannot afford it." His friends agree. "We are quite bored here. There is nothing to do for us." | "This is the only place to hang out here," says Yavuz Selim, 17. "And everything is very expensive. As students we cannot afford it." His friends agree. "We are quite bored here. There is nothing to do for us." |
| Some of the boys attend football practice at a club an hour away. "We have asked the management for more sports facilities," Firat Sürü, 18, explains. "They are now building one football field. One! How would that be enough for so many people?" | Some of the boys attend football practice at a club an hour away. "We have asked the management for more sports facilities," Firat Sürü, 18, explains. "They are now building one football field. One! How would that be enough for so many people?" |
| While the municipality has increased local transport over the past year, the last buses leave at 10pm and many of the families living in Kayaşehir cannot afford cars. | While the municipality has increased local transport over the past year, the last buses leave at 10pm and many of the families living in Kayaşehir cannot afford cars. |
| "We feel isolated from the city centre here," Yusuf Sari, 16, points out. "A bit cut off, really." | "We feel isolated from the city centre here," Yusuf Sari, 16, points out. "A bit cut off, really." |
| Analysts say this kind of segregation changes the idea of a city – a space where different parts of society coexist – and will create long-term social and economic problems. | Analysts say this kind of segregation changes the idea of a city – a space where different parts of society coexist – and will create long-term social and economic problems. |
| "It is very likely that these will end up like the banlieues in France," said Adanalı. "Spatial isolation and the social concentration of certain segments of society will create discontent. This discontent, too, is isolated from the rest of society. People start to feel that they cannot escape this isolation, which makes matters worse." | "It is very likely that these will end up like the banlieues in France," said Adanalı. "Spatial isolation and the social concentration of certain segments of society will create discontent. This discontent, too, is isolated from the rest of society. People start to feel that they cannot escape this isolation, which makes matters worse." |
| While most of the boys in Kayaşehir do not agree with the protests in Taksim, they say they respect other people's opinions. "And we feel concerned by what is going on because the protesters are mostly our own age," says Selim. "We don't usually talk about politics, but we do talk about Gezi park." | While most of the boys in Kayaşehir do not agree with the protests in Taksim, they say they respect other people's opinions. "And we feel concerned by what is going on because the protesters are mostly our own age," says Selim. "We don't usually talk about politics, but we do talk about Gezi park." |
| While liking the new place, Demirel also sees the problems. "There are no jobs out here, and many struggle with the commute." He has found work in a barber shop in nearby Güvercintepe but knows of many who are less fortunate. "There are no factories here, no workshops, nothing. It's a big problem." | While liking the new place, Demirel also sees the problems. "There are no jobs out here, and many struggle with the commute." He has found work in a barber shop in nearby Güvercintepe but knows of many who are less fortunate. "There are no factories here, no workshops, nothing. It's a big problem." |
| He also points out that there are no places to socialise, no tea houses, no parks. "I go back to Tarlabaşı as often as I can," he says, smiling. "I meet my old friends in the teahouse, we chat, play a game of okey. I can't do any of that in Kayaşehir." | He also points out that there are no places to socialise, no tea houses, no parks. "I go back to Tarlabaşı as often as I can," he says, smiling. "I meet my old friends in the teahouse, we chat, play a game of okey. I can't do any of that in Kayaşehir." |
| Mustafa Özalp, a 45-year-old taxi driver who moved to Kayaşehir from the low-income neighbourhood of Sultangazi, says he misses the familiarity of his old street. | Mustafa Özalp, a 45-year-old taxi driver who moved to Kayaşehir from the low-income neighbourhood of Sultangazi, says he misses the familiarity of his old street. |
| "I have no ideas who my neighbours are here. We never meet. There is no community." He explains that he moved to the satellite city because apartments were affordable compared with other parts of Istanbul. "Life in a high-rise is not for me, but what can I do?" | "I have no ideas who my neighbours are here. We never meet. There is no community." He explains that he moved to the satellite city because apartments were affordable compared with other parts of Istanbul. "Life in a high-rise is not for me, but what can I do?" |
| And with the government planning to put the new canal next to Kayaşehir, Demirel wonders if history will repeat itself, if he will be priced out of his new home again. | And with the government planning to put the new canal next to Kayaşehir, Demirel wonders if history will repeat itself, if he will be priced out of his new home again. |
| "Once the land is developed, prices go up. That's what happened in Tarlabaşı." | "Once the land is developed, prices go up. That's what happened in Tarlabaşı." |
| Poorer Istanbul residents are now being "market-evicted", priced out of their homes instead of being forcibly displaced by developers and municipalities. | Poorer Istanbul residents are now being "market-evicted", priced out of their homes instead of being forcibly displaced by developers and municipalities. |
| Ali Cuhacioglu, a carpenter of 54 who was evicted from his Tarlabaşı workshop two months ago, is fed up with the lack of communication between the city's authorities and the public. | Ali Cuhacioglu, a carpenter of 54 who was evicted from his Tarlabaşı workshop two months ago, is fed up with the lack of communication between the city's authorities and the public. |
| "They don't respect us, they don't care about us," he says. "They pass laws and decrees as they like. We're expected to shut up and accept them." | "They don't respect us, they don't care about us," he says. "They pass laws and decrees as they like. We're expected to shut up and accept them." |
| He adds that he would join the Taksim square protests if he had the time. | He adds that he would join the Taksim square protests if he had the time. |
| "The government now needs to see that we have had enough. Shopping centres finished off the retail sector and the craftsmen. Workshops are hard to find and expensive. It is harder and harder to survive for us. Istanbul is no place for poor people any more." | "The government now needs to see that we have had enough. Shopping centres finished off the retail sector and the craftsmen. Workshops are hard to find and expensive. It is harder and harder to survive for us. Istanbul is no place for poor people any more." |
| •This article's picture caption was corrected on 7 June. It originally stated that the protesters were in Tarlabaşı. | |
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