04.10.2025 16:48
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced good news to the people of Istanbul at the Sultanbeyli Mass Opening and Groundbreaking Ceremony. Erdoğan stated, "For the first time, we will launch a rental social housing campaign to balance the exorbitant rent increases in Istanbul. As the state, we will now provide rental housing to our citizens."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the Sultanbeyli Mass Opening and Groundbreaking Ceremony. In his statement here, Erdoğan gave good news about housing to the people of Istanbul.
Erdoğan said, "We announced the 'Century's Housing Project' in our last cabinet meeting. We are starting to build 500 thousand social housing units in all 81 provinces. To balance the exorbitant rent increases in Istanbul, we will implement the 'Rental Social Housing Campaign' for the first time through TOKİ. As the state, we will provide rental housing to our citizens. We will share the details of the project with our nation in the coming days."
"WE BROUGHT THE SUFFERINGS OF GAZA'S CHILDREN TO THE WORLD'S AGENDA"
Other key points from President Erdoğan's statements are as follows:
"At the beginning of my words, I want to address an issue that all of us, the entire Islamic world, and humanity are closely following. We are making intense efforts to stop the genocide that has been ongoing in Gaza for two years. We have mobilized our resources in every area, from humanitarian aid to diplomatic contacts. Our goal is to bring our brothers and sisters in Gaza to peace, tranquility, and security as soon as possible. Last week, we made contacts in this direction both in New York and Washington. We drew attention to the humanitarian disaster. We became the voice of the oppressed. We brought the sufferings of Gaza's children to the world's agenda with photographs at the United Nations.
"WE DISCUSSED THE PEACE PLAN IN DETAIL WITH MR. TRUMP"
We also discussed this issue in detail with American President Mr. Trump. We evaluated the steps that need to be taken for peace. Then, I sent our MIT President to Qatar and our Foreign Minister to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The most important agenda of our phone call with Mr. Trump last night was again Gaza. It was to bring peace and stability to Gaza. We welcome Hamas's response to Mr. Trump's peace plan. Hamas has shown, as it has many times before, that it is ready for peace. Thus, a window of opportunity for lasting peace in our region has been opened.
It is very important for Israel to immediately stop its attacks in this regard. The budding hopes for peace should not be allowed to wither. If all parties act with a sense of responsibility, it is quite possible to stop the bloodshed and establish peace. As Turkey, we will continue to do whatever is necessary to ensure that not a single more innocent person dies and that the faces of the children of Gaza smile.
"WE ARE BRINGING THE HOPE TRAVELERS OF THE SUMUD FLEET TO OUR COUNTRY"
We are also bringing the hope travelers of the Global Sumud Fleet to our country. I believe that in an hour, at Istanbul Airport, not only those coming from Turkey but also some 'Sumud Fleet' travelers from Malaysia and different countries will take their places in the arriving group. They will land in Istanbul in an hour. I pray that God grants us, our nation, and everyone with a conscience supporting the Palestinian cause the opportunity to see Gaza attain peace. From here, I send our messages of solidarity to the oppressed people of Gaza and reiterate that Turkey will always stand by them.
"WE USED YOUR RESOURCES FOR YOU"
Dear people of Sultanbeyli, my precious brothers and sisters. There has always been a special bond between us and Sultanbeyli. In the last elections on March 31, 2024, Sultanbeyli once again chose the politics of service and projects. I express my gratitude to you for your support in the March 31 elections. Just like everywhere in Turkey, we are standing up for your efforts, every single penny of yours, and the rights of the orphan who has not yet grown a feather. We have used your resources for you and continue to do so. Today, we are here to make the mass opening of these projects. The participation I see in front of me shows how much all my brothers and sisters value this mass opening ceremony and groundbreaking. We are both reuniting with you and officially opening 41 projects while laying the foundation for 9 projects.
I want to sincerely say this once. As an Istanbulite, I feel great pride in being in your presence with our works and services, projects, and investments. From urban transformation projects to youth and sports centers, from zero waste projects to environmental and green area arrangements, from vocational training and science centers to prestige avenues, I wish our projects, with a total value of 8 billion 425 million lira, to be beneficial for our district and Istanbul.
"I CONGRATULATE OUR SULTANBEYLI MUNICIPALITY FOR SIGNING 50 PROJECTS IN 1.5 YEARS"
I congratulate our Sultanbeyli Municipality, which has signed 50 projects in a very short time of one and a half years, along with my brother Ali Tombaş and his team. I also thank all my brothers who contributed to these investments, from workers to engineers, from architects to project personnel.
Dear brothers and sisters, this is a district that stands out with its people, nature, and young population. We are also striving to further strengthen this characteristic of our district. We have opened the Fetih Grove, which spans 140 thousand square meters, and the Aydos Grove, which is 110 thousand square meters in size, providing new oxygen reservoirs to Istanbul. With our City Square arrangement project, we rehabilitated the streets and avenues surrounding the square and strengthened the infrastructure.
As you know, earthquakes are the most painful reality of our country. We all saw how important earthquake-resistant buildings are during the disaster of the century we experienced on February 6. The 5-magnitude tremor that occurred on Thursday reminded us that we need to act quickly in the Marmara region as well. I wish my Istanbulite brothers a speedy recovery. While it is not in our hands to prevent earthquakes, it is possible to prevent loss of life and property. For this, urban transformation projects are of vital importance. Everyone knows our sensitivity regarding urban transformation since the beginning of our Metropolitan Municipality. We have accelerated the urban transformation efforts in Sultanbeyli with this understanding.
In our Battalgazi Neighborhood, we will build social living, culture, and sports areas along with 450 independent units and three commercial units on an area of 15 thousand square meters, and in our Mimar Sinan Neighborhood, we will construct 710 independent units, three commercial units, 4 thousand 500 square meters of commercial space, and new living areas on an area of 70 thousand square meters. Thus, we will have brought a total investment of 6 billion 625 million lira to our Sultanbeyli. I wish it to be beneficial for our district from now on.
CALL FOR URBAN TRANSFORMATION TO CITIZENS
I have a special request from you here. We need the support and help of our citizens to quickly carry out urban transformation projects. First comes life, first comes safety, first comes peace. We need to look at the issue with this perspective. If we work hand in hand to realize these projects, we will achieve great things in a very short time, God willing. However, if we give credence to the slanders of the main opposition and marginal organizations, in the end, we will be the ones who lose. I believe that Sultanbeyli will also display an exemplary stance with the current situation here.
Not only from Sultanbeyli, but from all of Istanbul, I expect a constructive attitude from all Istanbulites on this matter.
"THEY SLANDERED OUR PROJECTS BY CALLING THEM RENTAL TRANSFORMATION"
My brothers, I say this especially for this reason. For years, they slandered our projects by calling them 'rental transformation.' Instead of addressing the issue, they incited the citizens and tried to sabotage our efforts. So what happened then? Unfortunately, it was the people who suffered. Our hearts burned. None of those who smeared our projects with the slander of 'rental transformation' were around during the earthquakes on February 6. They took a couple of photos at most, then disappeared. But thank God, we were in the earthquake zone with all our capacity. We are still there with our 3,481 construction sites. Until we get our cities back on their feet, we hope to not leave those areas.
Last month, we delivered the keys to our 304,000th home. Next month, we will draw the lottery for our 350,000th housing unit. We are working day and night to deliver a total of 453,000 independent units to our rightful families by the end of the year. Those who boast in the squares saying 'we will vote for free' have not been seen or heard in the region again. The project they started with the claim that it would be better than TOKİ in Izmir ended in great disappointment. They took the money of thousands of citizens, gave our people false hope, and then defrauded the public and left them high and dry. Now they are being held accountable in court. Our TOKİ, which they slandered, continues to build safe, durable, and affordable homes for the citizens. TOKİ, which has produced 1 million 740 thousand social housing units to date, is adding new ones to its projects.
"WHY DID YOU MAKE SO MANY PROMISES TO THE CITIZENS?"
Dear brothers, while all these facts are evident, when we tell them 'don't do wrong to the people, be a little honest,' the gentlemen immediately get uncomfortable. So I ask from here: Is it not fraud to take the people's money with promises of votes and then betray them? Is it not fraud to promise free houses and then never show up again? Is it not lying to make grand claims in the squares and then not stand behind them?
Well, if you weren't going to do it, why did you give the people hope? If you were going to backtrack, why did you make so many promises to the citizens? Should we not throw these in your face? Should we not remind you of these? Should we not pursue these on behalf of our people? Sorry, but we are obliged to protect the rights and law of the people. With God's permission, we will fulfill this duty to the end. Likewise, our judiciary and law enforcement will also carry out their duties. Your threats, insults, and targeting our judiciary and law enforcement will not prevent this.
There are billions spent, but there are no works, no services, no actions. Shouldn't our judiciary hold accountable for this? The amounts have grown, but the problems have not shrunk; in fact, they have increased. While the amounts of the bills have grown, the quality of service has not improved; rather, the bank accounts of the criminal organizations have grown, the tentacles of the octopus have grown, the size of the suitcases has grown, and the volume of the boxes filled with foreign currency has grown.
HERE ARE THE DETAILS OF THE RENTAL SOCIAL HOUSING CAMPAIGN
Within the scope of the "Rental Social Housing Project" to be implemented by TOKİ in Istanbul, the houses to be built will be rented below the market value. Citizens who meet the specified criteria will benefit from the houses.
In earthquake-prone Istanbul, the Ministry is trying to renew the housing stock with urban transformation efforts on one hand and the Half is Ours Campaign on the other, and will respond to the housing demand of the megacity with a project that will build 500,000 social housing units in 81 provinces.
The rental social housing to be built within the campaign will alleviate the rental burden on citizens.
ONLY TO BE BUILT IN ISTANBUL
In the 'Century's Housing Project' where 500,000 social housing units will be built, a quota will be allocated for rental houses in addition to the houses that will be put up for sale in Istanbul.
A mechanism will be established under the coordination of TOKİ for the system in which the state will own the houses. The rental process will begin after the construction of the houses is completed.
TO BE DETERMINED BY LOTTERY
Citizens who meet the specified criteria will benefit from these houses, which will be rented below the market value. TOKİ will announce how long the houses will be rented. As in TOKİ's housing sales, the process of determining the rights holders among the applicants will be determined by lottery. Citizens who qualify to be tenants in the lottery will sign a contract.
During this process, it will be regularly monitored whether the rent payments are made and the condition of the houses. After the contract period is completed, the houses can be rented again to those who meet the criteria and are determined by lottery after necessary maintenance is done.
This system will allow citizens living in Istanbul to access affordable rental apartments against the aging of the existing housing stock, disaster risk, and the increasing need for safe housing, as well as against exorbitant housing and rental prices.