Jailhouse parts with its walls
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Aslı Sağlam
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 27, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Istanbul’s Bayrampaşa district, which hosts the city’s notorious prison, will undergo renovations in 35 different projects. Yet this renovation begins by removing the old skeletons. During the celebration to promote the projects the most important part of the prison, it’s 400 meter long walls will be demolished to supply a wider street for cars
The Bayrampaşa district of Istanbul is preparing for a face-lift. The district, which hosts Istanbul largest prison, will undergo renovations in 35 different projects. Yet this renovation project starts with a demolition.
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and the Bayrampaşa Municipality organized a ceremony to promote the projects, which will be held today inside the idled old prison. During the celebration they will destroy the most important part of the prison: it walls. Parts of the walls have already been demolished by the municipality to make room for the ceremony.
As a symbolic move to show that the projects have begun they will start by demolishing one of the 400 meter length walls of Bayrampaşa to supply a wider street for the cars to drive. Further more as a part of the great show they will give sledge hammers to the inhabitants of Bayrampaşa for them to take part in the demolition and feel like they are helping the municipalities.
Developing and changing
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Bayrampaşa Municipality joined forces to work on the projects, which are expected to be completed within five years. The projects aim to develop and change the city and create public awareness of urbanization. They cover opening social facilities, culture centers, education centers, sports facilities, parks, constructing crossroads, taxi stands and car parks.
According to Dr. Serhan Ada, urban culture manager of the 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, it is not logical to launch a project by demolishing something. "But to my thinking it is awkward. I believe this is a symbolic destruction. I would have expected cooperation between the municipalities and city planners. They should have opened these projects to discussion before informing the public," he said.
The road project, led by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, will start by demolishing the front walls of the prison. Demolishing the old walls will help them extend the Kenar Avenue in Bayrampaşa district to solve the traffic problem. Ercan Sevenler, spokesperson of the Bayrampaşa Municipality said the two lane highway would be extended to four lanes.
According to Bayrampaşa Mayor Hüseyin Bürge closing the prison provided a transformation for the district. In his written statement he said closing down the Bayrampaşa Prison would end the negative connotations associated with the district due to incidents that have taken place in the prison.
However, Bürge said: "Once the huge walls that surround the prison like castle walls are demolished, Bayrampaşa will open its doors to the world," those 35 projects do not include any future plans for Bayrampaşa Prison. "The prison is owned by the metropolitan municipality. It will be used for some purpose for sure in the future but we don’t know what it will be," Sevenler said.
The prison was first built on 120 acres to hold 1,210 people. Later by converting some workshops into dormitories, the prison was expanded to host 1,760 prisoners. Yet before it was closed it housed 5,500 prisoners. It was closed by a decision of the Ministry of Justice to close prisons that did not meet modern standards, and the decision foresaw moving the prisoners to newly built prisons. The prisoners in Bayrampaşa were moved to Silivri Open Prison Execution Complex and to other prisons.
Prison breaks and incidents
There have been many attempts by prisoners to escape Bayrampaşa prison. Some failed, others succeeded. Many people were caught while they were just about to escape and many others were caught planning their escape in prison.
Yet, there are a few that still are remembered. Seven prisoners, convicted of being terrorists, escaped in 1994 by disguising themselves as guards. In 1998, another prisoner took advantage of visiting hour and escaped leaving his visitor locked up in his place. Some managed to escape by jumping over the garden wall, while others were caught digging tunnels underground.
There were also many riots in the prisons three wings. During one riot, a group even took a prison guard hostage. Prisoners had gunfights inside the prison, one which resulted in the death of eight prisoners. In another gunfight a prison guard was wounded.
In some parts of Bayrampaşa Prison fires broke out from time to time. One of the protest methods used by prisoners was hunger strike. One such incident resulted in the death of 12 prisoners in 2000. One year later prison guards, gendarmes and clerks were sued for mistreatment, neglect and abusing authority. Many searches would uncover drugs, guns, sharp tools and mobile phones, which are forbidden inside prison.
Legendary prison was full of action
Bayrampaşa Prison had been home to many famous names in Turkey. Sedat Peker and Hakan Çillioğlu, well-known in the underworld, were arrested for murder and organized crime. Hasan Bora, a famous criminal, was arrested for "establishing an organization with the aim of committing criminal acts."
The singer known as Doğuş, the artist Yılmaz Güney and singer Cengiz İmren were all arrested on charges from theft to rape.
Former chairman of the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration, or İSKİ, Ergun Göknel and former chairman of Emlak Bank, Engin Civan are just a two of the high profile names to have spent time in the Bayrampaşa Prioson.
Becoming a film set
Bayrampaşa Prison has also been used as a film set. Trying to remedy the bad reputation of the prison, it hosted many activities during the last years before it was abandoned. The cooperation of Screenplay Writers Association, or SENDER, and Bayrampaşa and Paşakapısı Prisons, gave prisoners the chance to write a script.
The filming of the movie "Bayrampaşa: I Won't Stay Long, had an original screenplay written by inmates. The film, which starred many famous artists, brought together celebrities and prisoners.
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and the Bayrampaşa Municipality organized a ceremony to promote the projects, which will be held today inside the idled old prison. During the celebration they will destroy the most important part of the prison: it walls. Parts of the walls have already been demolished by the municipality to make room for the ceremony.
As a symbolic move to show that the projects have begun they will start by demolishing one of the 400 meter length walls of Bayrampaşa to supply a wider street for the cars to drive. Further more as a part of the great show they will give sledge hammers to the inhabitants of Bayrampaşa for them to take part in the demolition and feel like they are helping the municipalities.
Developing and changing
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Bayrampaşa Municipality joined forces to work on the projects, which are expected to be completed within five years. The projects aim to develop and change the city and create public awareness of urbanization. They cover opening social facilities, culture centers, education centers, sports facilities, parks, constructing crossroads, taxi stands and car parks.
According to Dr. Serhan Ada, urban culture manager of the 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, it is not logical to launch a project by demolishing something. "But to my thinking it is awkward. I believe this is a symbolic destruction. I would have expected cooperation between the municipalities and city planners. They should have opened these projects to discussion before informing the public," he said.
The road project, led by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, will start by demolishing the front walls of the prison. Demolishing the old walls will help them extend the Kenar Avenue in Bayrampaşa district to solve the traffic problem. Ercan Sevenler, spokesperson of the Bayrampaşa Municipality said the two lane highway would be extended to four lanes.
According to Bayrampaşa Mayor Hüseyin Bürge closing the prison provided a transformation for the district. In his written statement he said closing down the Bayrampaşa Prison would end the negative connotations associated with the district due to incidents that have taken place in the prison.
However, Bürge said: "Once the huge walls that surround the prison like castle walls are demolished, Bayrampaşa will open its doors to the world," those 35 projects do not include any future plans for Bayrampaşa Prison. "The prison is owned by the metropolitan municipality. It will be used for some purpose for sure in the future but we don’t know what it will be," Sevenler said.
The prison was first built on 120 acres to hold 1,210 people. Later by converting some workshops into dormitories, the prison was expanded to host 1,760 prisoners. Yet before it was closed it housed 5,500 prisoners. It was closed by a decision of the Ministry of Justice to close prisons that did not meet modern standards, and the decision foresaw moving the prisoners to newly built prisons. The prisoners in Bayrampaşa were moved to Silivri Open Prison Execution Complex and to other prisons.
Prison breaks and incidents
There have been many attempts by prisoners to escape Bayrampaşa prison. Some failed, others succeeded. Many people were caught while they were just about to escape and many others were caught planning their escape in prison.
Yet, there are a few that still are remembered. Seven prisoners, convicted of being terrorists, escaped in 1994 by disguising themselves as guards. In 1998, another prisoner took advantage of visiting hour and escaped leaving his visitor locked up in his place. Some managed to escape by jumping over the garden wall, while others were caught digging tunnels underground.
There were also many riots in the prisons three wings. During one riot, a group even took a prison guard hostage. Prisoners had gunfights inside the prison, one which resulted in the death of eight prisoners. In another gunfight a prison guard was wounded.
In some parts of Bayrampaşa Prison fires broke out from time to time. One of the protest methods used by prisoners was hunger strike. One such incident resulted in the death of 12 prisoners in 2000. One year later prison guards, gendarmes and clerks were sued for mistreatment, neglect and abusing authority. Many searches would uncover drugs, guns, sharp tools and mobile phones, which are forbidden inside prison.
Legendary prison was full of action
Bayrampaşa Prison had been home to many famous names in Turkey. Sedat Peker and Hakan Çillioğlu, well-known in the underworld, were arrested for murder and organized crime. Hasan Bora, a famous criminal, was arrested for "establishing an organization with the aim of committing criminal acts."
The singer known as Doğuş, the artist Yılmaz Güney and singer Cengiz İmren were all arrested on charges from theft to rape.
Former chairman of the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration, or İSKİ, Ergun Göknel and former chairman of Emlak Bank, Engin Civan are just a two of the high profile names to have spent time in the Bayrampaşa Prioson.
Becoming a film set
Bayrampaşa Prison has also been used as a film set. Trying to remedy the bad reputation of the prison, it hosted many activities during the last years before it was abandoned. The cooperation of Screenplay Writers Association, or SENDER, and Bayrampaşa and Paşakapısı Prisons, gave prisoners the chance to write a script.
The filming of the movie "Bayrampaşa: I Won't Stay Long, had an original screenplay written by inmates. The film, which starred many famous artists, brought together celebrities and prisoners.