24.10.2026 16:20
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Topkapı Palace Darphane-i Amire Museums, President Erdoğan noted that Yıldız Palace was used as a casino and gambling house in the past, and said, "We have not given, and will not give, an opportunity for 24 years to this identity-erasing policy carried out to sever our nation from its spiritual roots, or to those acting with nostalgia for the old days."
Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the Topkapı Palace Darphane-i Amire Museums, President Erdoğan drew attention with striking remarks, stating that Yıldız Palace was once used as a casino.
Erdoğan began by saying, 'Yıldız Palace, one of our most distinguished cultural assets, was once operated in this country as a casino and gambling house,' and continued, 'We experienced painful days when our historic mosques were used as grain warehouses and, unfortunately, in some places even converted into stables. In order to cut our nation off from its spiritual roots, we were subjected to a policy of de-identification—a product of what our late teacher Mehmet Doğan called the betrayal of Westernization—which sought Westernization only in the wardrobe, sought it in denying one's history and culture, and sought it in alienation from national and spiritual values. We know very well that there are still those who act with longing for the old days, disowning their heritage and settling accounts with the nation's historical and cultural codes. For 24 years we have not given opportunities to representatives of this mindset. God willing, we will not give them opportunities from now on either,' he said.
Highlights from Erdoğan's statements; 'As the Turkish nation, with our history, culture, architecture, and depth in art and literature, we possess a heritage rarely matched in the world. It is certain that this heritage did not emerge all at once or by chance. The formation of this accumulation and the works here almost speaking are the result of a sublime ideal rooted in both centuries and continents. Each piece of this treasure is a reflection of a distinct wisdom, a high intuition, an independent aesthetic understanding, and a magnificent comprehension in which science and wisdom intertwine. In the words of the late Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar, without knowing them we cannot attain our completeness.
Look, even Topkapı Palace, where we are now, is in every respect and in itself a masterpiece. Likewise, every corner of the geography of hearts that we have built and revived step by step is, so to speak, an open-air museum. I especially want to emphasize this: these works are of course important and valuable. They are the treasures of our cultural heritage. But what truly matters is to be able to preserve this accumulation we possess with a high awareness, to enrich it further, and to transmit it fully to the generations after us.
'WE WERE SUBJECTED TO A POLICY OF DE-IDENTIFICATION' I am saying these things especially for this: Yıldız Palace, one of our most distinguished cultural assets, was once operated in this country as a casino and gambling house. We witnessed the same disrespect in many other places, from our places of worship to various institutions. Our rare handwritten works were sold to foreigners as scrap paper. We experienced painful days when our historic mosques were used as grain warehouses and even, unfortunately, in some places converted into stables. In order to cut our nation off from its spiritual roots, we were subjected to a policy of de-identification—a product of what our late teacher Mehmet Doğan called the betrayal of Westernization—which sought Westernization only in the wardrobe, sought it in denying one's history and culture, and sought it in alienation from national and spiritual values. We know very well that there are still those who act with longing for the old days, disowning their heritage and settling accounts with the nation's historical and cultural codes. For 24 years we have not given opportunities to representatives of this mindset. God willing, we will not give them opportunities from now on either.
'THE SLANDERS THEY THREW FELL UPON THEMSELVES' When we started these works 7 years ago, the apparatuses of the aforementioned mindset targeted us with nonsensical slanders. They said, 'He will use this place as his own palace, his own office.' So what happened? The slanders they threw fell upon themselves and proved baseless. Those who shamelessly attacked us received the most beautiful answer precisely through these museums.
'WE ARE REVIVING THE EDIRNE PALACE' We are carrying out the revival of Edirne Palace, one of the greatest works of the Ottoman State. When it is completed next year, Edirne Palace Cedid-i Amire will be registered in our cultural architecture as one of Turkey's most magnificent historical monuments. We are bringing this work, which sultans used together with Topkapı Palace for 300 years, back to life. When it is completed next year, it will be registered as Turkey's most magnificent historical monument.'