Hagia Sophia sets a precedent: Application for Atatürk Forest Farm

* Photo: AA - Archive

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After the 10th Chamber of the Council of State annulled the Council of Ministers decree converting Hagia Sophia from a mosque to a museum in 1934, the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) Chamber of Architects is now preparing to take legal action to demand that Atatürk Forest Farm in the capital Ankara be returned to its original.

CLICK - Hagia Sophia handed over to Presidency of Religious Affairs

In the ruling of the Council of State, it has been indicated that "Hagia Sophia was in the possession of Sultan Mehmed II's Foundation" and "it was offered for the use of society as a mosque." The ruling has noted that Hagia Sophia was "registered as a mosque in the title deed."

The ruling has also indicated the following:

"As it has been concluded that it is not legally possible for Hagia Sophia to be used for a qualification other than being a mosque, as it was allocated as per the settlement deed, or to be allocated for another purpose, the Council of Ministers Decree, which is the matter in dispute in this case, ended its use as a mosque and converted it into a museum, has not been found lawful."

Within this context, Tezcan Karakuş-Candan, the Ankara Branch Chair of Chamber of Architects, has released a statement.

Reminding the public that the Council of State has annulled the decree converting Hagia Sophia into a museum by referring back to the "conditional donation" of Sultan Mehmed II, Karakuş-Candan has underlined that Atartürk Forest Farm was also the "conditional donation" of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and the first President of the Republic of Turkey.

"We are starting a legal process to ensure that the areas belonging to the Atatürk Forest Farm be returned to its original in line with the conditional donation and last will of Atatürk," the statement has read further.

Used by President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since 2015, the Presidential Complex in Beştepe is also located on the then Atatürk Forest Farm.

'Council of State ruling will set a precedent'

In her statement about the issue, Karakuş-Candan has reminded the public that the Hagia Sophia decree signed by Atatürk has been annulled by the Council of State by referring to the fact that "Hagia Sophia once belonged to the Foundation of Sultan Mehmed II, it cannot be used for another purpose than a mosque as stated in its settlement deed and it is not legally possible for it to be used for a qualification other than being a mosque."

Within this context, she has noted, "As for the Atatürk Forest Farm, Atatürk devoted his own estate to his people so that the fields would be improved, planned and beautified, it would provide the people with a place of sightseeing and recreation as well as cheap and clean foodstuffs."

Accordingly, she has said that they, as Chamber of Architects Ankara Branch, are "starting a legal process to ensure that the areas belonging to the Atatürk Forest Farm be returned to its original in line with the conditional donation and last will of Atatürk within its widest boundaries possible."

She has also underlined that though they will take the legal action, it will not be solely the case of Ankara Branch of the Chamber of Architects, but "the case of everyone standing behind the Republic, modernity and the signature of the founder of this country." Karakuş-Candan has called on everyone to stand in support and solidarity with them in this legal process.

What happened in Atatürk Forest Farm?

The Forest Farm was established in 1925 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as a private farm. One year before his passing in 1938, he wrote his last will and donated the farm to the Treasury, including all agricultural enterprises, estates and assets within the boundaries of the Farm.

What protected the Atatürk Forest Farm till 2006 was the fact that it was declared a protected area.

In 1992, the Cultural and Natural Heritage Preservation Board declared the farm a "natural and historical protected area." In 1998, the Atatürk Forest Farm was recognized as a first-degree protected area.

In 2011, some parts of Atatürk Forest Farm were stripped of its "protected area status" and the foundations of "Presidential Complex" were laid there.

Shortly afterwards, the zoo inside the Farm was also closed and the construction of the then Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Melih Gökçek's controversial Ankapark project started.

Lastly, a 555-thousand square meter area has been allocated to the TEBA foundation, which established the Medipol group, once owned by Fahrettin Koca, the current Minister of Health of Turkey. (TP/SD)