İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality has signed a protocol with pro -government TÜRGEV, Ensar, Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi Foundation and TÜGVA for the management of the student dormitories. The rent of the dormitory buildings will be paid by the municipality and reactionary foundations will earn the profit.
These reactionary foundations are close to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The son of the Turkish president, Bilal Erdoğan, is among the board members of the Service for Youth and Education Foundation of Turkey (TÜRGEV). Aziz Hamdi Hüdayi Foundations is associated with the religious Naksibendi cult led by Ahmet Hamdi Topbaş, the owner of the BİM supermarket chain. Ensar Foundation associated with the governing party AKP is accused of child abuse.
The costs and rents of the dormitories will be paid by the municipality. The reactionary foundations will run the management of them and make the profit.
The Metropolitan Municipality also allocated a 15,000 square meter land to İlim Yayma Foundation which is another reactionary organisation. The municipality will not receive money for the land for 25 years, but the foundation will build a private school and earn the profit.
Ümit Kösedağı, a deputy from the main opposition party CHP, stated that the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality generally make agreements with the reactionary foundations instead of more secular organisations.
