[79573] Turkish President Erdogan: Istanbul will remain Turkish and Muslim forever

Turkish President Erdogan: Istanbul will remain Turkish and Muslim forever

In a series of public statements on June 1, 2026, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attacked his political critics and emphasized the supremacy of the current administration. According to TRT Haber reports, the President stated that "Istanbul will remain Turkish and Muslim until Judgment Day," while calling his opponents "remnants of Byzantium" who struggle to come to terms with reality.

Erdogan also referred in his speech to the Gezi Park protests that took place 13 years ago. As reported by A Haber and Sputnik Türkiye, the President defined the protesters as "vandals" who opposed the construction of the Istanbul Airport. He noted with pride that the airport has become one of the most prestigious in the world, setting a record of 1,730 takeoffs and landings in a single day, in response to those who had previously claimed that "planes would not be able to land there."

In addition, according to Sputnik Türkiye, Erdogan addressed the political tensions within the opposition CHP party and emphasized that the administration "will not allow the disturbance of peace in the streets." The President further noted that statistical data show a decrease in fatal traffic accidents during the current holiday compared to previous years.

The reports were based on a series of Turkish media channels, including Son Dakika Haberler Gündem, which are mostly identified with the government and establishment narrative in Turkey, and provided extensive coverage of the President's remarks as part of the continuous reporting of the day's events.