An English Wall: Beyoğlu Municipality Faces Obstacles

The Beyoğlu District Municipality, led by Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) administration, announced on September 19 that officials are being denied access to municipal offices located in the district governor’s building.

Beyoğlu Municipality stated that some of its municipal administrators were refused entry to their offices inside the district governor’s building. “Necessary legal action will be taken against those responsible. We remind you that obstructing public services and public officials is illegal,” warned the district municipality.

Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney Responds

Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney responded to the setback on social media. He said, “I call on those responsible to respect the wisdom of the state and the will of the people of Beyoğlu. I remind them that what is being done is tantamount to punishing an entire area.

The mayor assured the residents that there would be no disruption to services. “We will exercise all our administrative and legal rights to protect Beyoğlu’s rights and the rule of law,” he added.

Background of the Issue

Before the March 31 local elections, the municipality and the government-affiliated Beyoğlu District Governor’s Office shared the building, but after the election, the municipality was asked to leave.

Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu visited the historic building previously used as an Ottoman barracks with Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney and municipal officials yesterday.

İmamoğlu’s Statement

Imamoğlu said that before the 2024 local elections, the building was divided for simultaneous use by the district municipality and the governor. The service continued without problems and signs were even placed on the building for the municipality and the governor.

Calling the situation “tragic,” İmamoğlu cast doubt on the governor’s decision to use the entire building after the municipal administration switched to CHP in the local elections.

Support from Civil Society Members

Speaking on 20 September at a gathering of civil society members and community leaders in the northern province of Tokat, İmamoğlu noted, “Look, even this is reason enough for a government to fall, my friends. I’m saying this here: I don’t know how long my political career or my position will last. But if someone from my own party did something similar, and I didn’t stand against them, then Ekrem İmamoğlu would be a coward.

Resul Emrah Şahan, President of the Association of Social Democratic Municipalities (SODEM) and Mayor of Istanbul’s Şişli district, expressed support for Güney, saying, “We stand by the elected mayor of Beyoğlu, İnan Güney. We want it to be known that we are against any obstacles to the provision of public services by the municipality.”