Illegal Construction Near Validebağ Grove Halted

The illegal construction of a mosque near the entrance of Validebağ Grove in İstanbul's Üsküdar district which has been the subject of growing controversy since last week came to a halt again on Thursday.

On early Tuesday morning of last week, excavators entered the Altunizade neighborhood with the protection of police officers to demolish a parking lot near the entrance of Validebağ Grove, a first-degree protected green space, and construct a mosque in its place. Environmentalists, local residents and politicians have since been holding sit-in demonstrations day and night next to the construction site, which has been blocked off by police barricades and hundreds of riot police.

Lawsuits against the construction of the mosque were filed by local residents and activists. The İstanbul 7th Administrative Court ordered a cessation of the ongoing construction on Oct. 22, after which construction came to a halt, according to statements given by the Üsküdar mayor that day. Then, despite the court's ruling, construction resumed and did not stop again until Oct. 30, though it was unclear why.

Environmentalists and locals oppose the construction of the mosque because of its proximity to the grove and fear that even more construction projects will come into the green space.

The mosque, which is being commissioned by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party)-ruled Üsküdar municipality, has been the subject of many heated debates due to assertions by lawyers and politicians that it is being built without proper licensing and is in opposition to the court's decision.

Lawyer Gülsüm Özdemir made a press statement on Tuesday, saying: “The situation is very clear. There is a decision made by the court calling for the cessation of construction at this site and then there is the municipality, which is not following these orders. … A crime is being committed. The court decision is not being acknowledged, construction is continuing and a crime is being committed with the protection of the municipal police.”

Protesters and locals continue to demonstrate at the site amid heavy rain.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)