03.08.2026 22:01
Tuzla Mayor Eren Ali Bingöl, who resigned from CHP and joined AK Party, responded to the statements made by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan regarding the similar transfer in Tuzla. Bingöl stated that the issue concerning approximately 50 thousand people should not be subject to political debates and invited Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality to produce solutions. Bingöl also listed the questions the public expects answers to, item by item.
Eren Ali Bingöl, the Mayor of Tuzla who resigned from CHP and joined AK Party, made a written statement following the press conference held by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan regarding his transfer, which is considered a precedent in Tuzla.
"IT IS NOT A POLITICAL POLEMIC; IT IS A VITAL ISSUE DIRECTLY CONCERNING THE FUTURE OF APPROXIMATELY 50 THOUSAND OF OUR TUZLA NEIGHBORS" Mayor Bingöl stated the following in his statement: "We carefully followed the statement made today by IBB Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan. The issue of precedent transfers in Tuzla is not a political polemic; it is a vital issue directly concerning the homes, families, and future of approximately 50 thousand of our neighbors in Tuzla. The allegations of irregularities, missing documents, and duplicate precedent transfers presented today as if they have just come to light all relate to transactions between 2019 and 2024. When we took office in 2024, instead of sweeping this long-known truth under the rug, we confronted it, filed a criminal complaint against those responsible with the prosecutor's office in October 2024, and halted all administrative procedures for approximately 1000 building permits. We also informed IBB about the entire process. So, there is no situation that has been covered up; on the contrary, our administration was the first institution to provide information to investigate the legal aspects of the matter. This situation has caused thousands of our rightful owner neighbors to be unable to obtain the title deeds for their flats for two years, to use construction site electricity and water, to be unable to obtain condominium ownership or occupancy permits, and to be unable to transfer to condominium title deeds. While contractors, unable to obtain title deeds, and aggrieved Tuzla residents who cannot sell the flats they bought due to debt have been waiting for a solution for two years, it is impossible to understand not being part of the solution."
LISTED THE QUESTIONS HE EXPECTS ANSWERS TO, ONE BY ONE Bingöl, listing the questions the public expects answers to, stated the following item by item:
"- Today, Nuri Aslan made statements like 'we will not turn a blind eye, we will not ignore'. In that case, how and for what reasons were the construction of 16 thousand flats, which are controversial in terms of zoning legislation between 2019 and 2024, not noticed?
- While the Architectural Aesthetics Commission of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality gave 'appropriate' decisions by evaluating the number of floors, building height, and silhouette of the projects before the constructions even began, will it be explained to the public why the constructions, which are claimed to be irregular today, were not noticed at this stage?
- Let's say you didn't see all of them; but why was no action taken regarding the illegalities on the plots containing 144 building permits and 348 independent sections, which were noticed by IBB as a result of citizen applications? Why was the inspection duty not fulfilled and why was the growth of the victimization experienced by citizens today watched passively?
- While dozens of citizens submitted written complaint petitions to IBB between 2019 and 2024 stating that there were problems with Tuzla Municipality building permits, why was no inspection initiated?
- Until we took office and called for a joint solution, why was no criminal complaint filed with the prosecutor's office?
- While the problems related to these precedent transfers and building permits were evident, how does IBB, which did not fulfill its inspection and supervision responsibility, not feel responsibility regarding the solution?"
"UNFORTUNATELY, THE ISTANBUL METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY DID NOT AGREE TO THIS SOLUTION" Stating that a significant portion of the members serving in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Assembly today were also in office at that time, Bingöl said, "Therefore, it also needs to be explained to the public why the serious findings voiced today were left waiting for years without action being taken. If the building permits had been cancelled then, these people would not have bought the flats, and approximately 50 thousand people would not have been victimized. We believe that the duty of local governments is not to refer problems to other institutions, but to produce solutions on behalf of the citizens. In this direction, we wanted to conclude the process by acting together with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. However, unfortunately, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality did not agree to this solution. At the point reached today, it has preferred to direct the process to the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the relevant ministries instead of producing a solution. With Law No. 5216 on Metropolitan Municipalities in front of us, saying 'We sent the report, now the responsibility lies with the ministries' is not compatible with the understanding of local government. Moreover, in the Submission Report dated 12 June 2026 sent to our municipality by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, it is requested that building permits be cancelled, electricity, water, and natural gas subscriptions be terminated, buildings be sealed, administrative fines be applied, and demolition decisions be implemented when conditions arise," he said.
"OUR STANCE IS CLEAR" Stating that they openly ask the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality administration on behalf of the public, Bingöl said, "We will not implement this demolition decision. What will happen when the time granted to our municipality expires on 12 September 2026? Will the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, as per the responsibility imposed on it by Law No. 5216, implement the sealing and demolition decisions on the buildings in question? Who will assume the political and conscientious responsibility of this process, which could cause approximately 50 thousand people to become homeless?" he said.
"Our stance is clear. The future of approximately 50 thousand of our neighbors in Tuzla cannot be sacrificed to political debates," said Bingöl, adding, "As Tuzla Municipality, we are ready to produce a joint solution today as well. We invite the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality to act together for the future of our citizens, instead of transferring responsibility to other institutions. Finally, I appeal to the conscience of all the esteemed names with whom we have done politics together for years, who have been my companions on the road, my brothers and sisters: Which of us truly stands by the people? We leave the appreciation to the conscience of our neighbors in Tuzla and our nation," he said.