04.02.2026 15:37
In the Bebek Hotel, sealed off due to a drug investigation, silence has replaced the social scene; today, only Mehmet Hanifi, known as "Homeless Mehmet," continues to live there.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has sealed off the Bebek Hotel, which has attracted significant public attention due to the "drug investigation targeting celebrities." Following the investigation, in which many names, including the hotel's owner Muzaffer Yıldırım, were arrested, life has virtually come to a standstill in the luxury hotel located in Bebek, one of Istanbul's most valuable neighborhoods.
ALLEGATIONS OF DRUG AND GAMBLING PARTIES
As part of the investigation, it was claimed that some areas of the Bebek Hotel were used for "drug and gambling parties." The illegal sections of the hotel, sealed off by court order, were demolished by teams from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Just a short time ago, long queues formed in front of the hotel, but today a deep silence prevails...
FROM SOCIETY TO 'HOMELESS MEHMET'
According to a report by Sabah; now only Mehmet Hanifi, known by the nickname "Homeless Mehmet," is found in front of the Bebek Hotel, which was once a meeting point for Istanbul's socialites. Hanifi states that he has started living in front of the hotel and that no one has intervened with him.
"THE HOTEL IS CLOSED, NO ONE IS TOUCHING ME"
Describing his experiences, Mehmet Hanifi summarizes the changes in the area with the words, "I used to be around Taksim. After the closure of the Bebek Hotel, I moved here. This place is quieter compared to Taksim. Since the hotel is closed, no one is touching me."