Suspension of Execution Order for Basilica Cistern Transfer to Foundations Directorate
Istanbul, June 4 – The Istanbul Regional Administrative Court’s 8th Administrative Litigation Chamber has issued a stay of execution order concerning the transfer of the Basilica Cistern to the General Directorate of Foundations. This decision follows an appeal filed by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM).
The Basilica Cistern, a significant cultural heritage site from the Byzantine era located in Istanbul’s historical peninsula, has been at the center of a property dispute. Previously, the Istanbul 8th Regional Administrative Court had ruled that the ownership of the historical structure should be transferred to the General Directorate of Foundations, under Law No. 5737 on Foundations. This decision also mandated the evacuation of the historical structure, which was alleged to be occupied by the IMM.
In response to this transfer decision, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality filed an objection with the Istanbul Regional Administrative Court’s 8th Administrative Litigation Chamber. The Chamber reviewed the objection, and after careful consideration, it accepted the IMM’s appeal. The court cited the potential for damage to the plaintiff, IMM, during the eviction process initiated by the General Directorate of Foundations as the reason for its decision. Consequently, the court ruled to suspend the transfer process to the General Directorate of Foundations.
This development marks a crucial turn in the ongoing legal battle over the ownership and management of one of Istanbul’s most iconic historical landmarks. The decision ensures that the Basilica Cistern will remain under its current management until a final ruling is made on the merits of the case, preventing immediate changes that could harm the municipality.
