Sulukule | |
|---|---|
Quarter | |
 Sulukule district | |
  Sulukule | |
| Coordinates:41°01′35″N28°56′02″E / 41.02639°N 28.93389°E /41.02639; 28.93389 | |
| Country |  Turkey |
| Region | Marmara |
| Province | Istanbul |
| District | Fatih |
| Established | 15th century |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (TRT) |
| Postal code | 34091, 34093, 34097 |
| Area code | 0212 |
Sulukule (literally: "Water tower") is a historic quarter in theFatih district ofIstanbul, Turkey. It is within the area of Istanbul’s historic peninsula, adjacent to the western part of thecity walls. The area has historically been occupied byRomani communities.[1] Roma presence in this part of Istanbul dates back toByzantine times, when uponOttoman conquest in the 15th century, that the quarter became (reportedly) the first district in the world permanently settled by sedentaryRomani people in Turkey.[2]
Sulukule was notable for its entertainment houses, where the Romani performed music and dance to the visitors from in and outside Istanbul. The closure of these entertainment houses in 1992 precipitated serious socio-economic decline in the area.
In 2005, the ruling AKP authorities in theFatih andGreater Istanbul municipalities announced plans to redevelop Sulukule, demolishing most buildings and replacing them with far more expensive housing that was unaffordable to many who had previously lived there. Despite protests and objections, in 2008 the local government started compulsory purchase orders and forced evictions.[3] It is claimed that these evictions disproportionately affectedRomani residents.[4][3]
The redevelopment has since been used as a case study in "planned gentrification".[5]
