Nebi Hatipoğlu calls for closure of Eskişehir Bar Street

Nebi Hatipoğlu, a former İYİ Parti deputy who joined the AKP, has called for the closure of the ‘Barlar Sokağı’ (Bar Street) in Eskişehir. Hatipoğlu argued that while the AKP does not interfere with citizens' private lives or consumption habits, the concentration of bars in a single street within a neighborhood heavily populated by university students is problematic.

He stated that if he had been elected mayor, he would have cancelled the licenses of these establishments in a single day. Hatipoğlu suggested that instead of being in the city center, these businesses should be relocated to the outskirts of Eskişehir, such as near ring roads.

To replace the current nightlife hub, he proposed transforming the area into social and cultural spaces, including cafes and art workshops, to provide students with alcohol-free socialization options. He also cited security concerns, noting that the area has experienced incidents of fighting and stabbings.