The tender is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the Foundations 1st Regional Directorate in Beyoğlu, using an open bidding process. This development comes after the park's ownership and usage rights were transferred from the IMM to the General Directorate of Foundations on March 12, 2021. The transfer was justified under Article 30 of the Law on Foundations (No. 5737), with the park being registered in the name of the 'Sultan Beyazıt Hanı Veli Hazretleri Foundation'.
The TMMOB Chamber of Architects' Istanbul Metropolitan Branch has filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against the transfer, arguing that it is unlawful. However, the decision by the Directorate of Foundations to proceed with the rental tender before the lawsuit is concluded has drawn criticism.
According to the records of the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre, the 29-decare area, which includes parcels 1, 2, 3, and 4 on island 751, was transferred to the foundation based on a 2008 law change. The IMM has argued that the foundation in question is no longer active and that the park should be preserved as public property.
The General Directorate of Foundations has stated that 1,014 properties across Turkey have been transferred to endowed foundations. In Istanbul, besides Gezi Park, 76 other properties, including the Selimiye Barracks, Pera Palace, Galata Tower, Hagia Sophia, and Süleymaniye Mosque, have also been transferred.
The Gezi Case and Its Aftermath
The Gezi Park protests began on May 27, 2013, as a peaceful sit-in against the planned demolition of the park to build a replica of the historic Topçu Barracks and a shopping mall. The violent eviction of the protesters sparked a wave of nationwide demonstrations against the government, spreading to many cities across Turkey. The protests, which lasted for several weeks, became a symbol of resistance against what many perceived as the government's increasing authoritarianism.
The aftermath of the Gezi Park protests saw a significant crackdown on dissent in Turkey. The ongoing Gezi Park case involves the prosecution of 16 individuals, including prominent figures like Osman Kavala, Can Atalay, Tayfun Kahraman, and Çiğdem Mater, who remain in custody. The case has been widely criticized by human rights organizations as a politically motivated attempt to silence critical voices in the country.
Photo: The source