Yüksel Mansur Kılınç alleges organized zoning crime in Istanbul

During a session at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), CHP Istanbul Deputy Yüksel Mansur Kılınç addressed the causes of recent floods and waterlogging in Istanbul and other provinces. Kılınç argued that intense urbanization and flawed zoning practices have turned natural events into major disasters.

Kılınç specifically alleged the existence of organized crime groups involved in zoning and rent-seeking crimes in Istanbul. He claimed that local governments and political institutions have been surrounded by these structures, leading to high-density construction patterns that exacerbate flood risks.

Using the Ayazağa district as a case study, Kılınç noted that zoning plans for the area were rejected by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Council between 1999 and 2004. However, he stated that following 2004, changes to these plans opened the region to intensive construction. He called for a comprehensive investigation into Istanbul’s zoning decisions and construction processes to combat organized zoning crime.