Istanbul’s cosmopolitan heart feeling the pinch after terror attacks and failed coup attempt
Once lively areas along Istiklal Avenue have fallen silent, with a string of shops shuttered unable to make a profit
For centuries, it has been the main commercial artery running through the heart of Istanbul, attracting thousands of people every day for shopping, entertainment or historic sightseeing.
But following a string of deadly attacks and the failed coup of July 15, Istiklal Avenue now faces an uncertain future, its shops boarded up and visitor numbers plummeting, its identity rapidly changing.
Located in Beyoglu in the centre of European Istanbul, the pedestrianised street is lined with elegant shops and cafes, stretching 1.5km from Tunel, which overlooks the Golden Horn, to Taksim Square.
The terror attacks followed by the July 15 coup were actions aimed at dealing a setback to Turkey’s economy
In March, the street was hit by a suicide bombing that killed three Israelis and an Iranian and injured dozens in an attack blamed on Islamic State (IS) jihadists. And three months later, at least 41 people were killed in a triple suicide bombing at Ataturk airport, causing tourism to plummet.
Now, once lively areas along the street have fallen silent, with a string of shops shuttered, from big chains to boutiques, unable to make a profit in the face of high rents and declining revenues.
For Beyoglu mayor Ahmet Misbah Demircan, Istiklal Avenue will never lose its dynamism, with the current recession an unfortunate “reality” but only a temporary one.
“The terror attacks followed by the July 15 coup were actions aimed at dealing a setback to Turkey’s economy,” he said. “We are aware of the negative waves. It’s only natural after all that has happened, and I personally do not see any sign it will have permanent repercussions,” said Demircan, a member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
