How COVID-19 threatens Istanbul's cultural heritage
The novel coronavirus pandemic presents multiple threats to Istanbul's cultural heritage, both decimating tourism and distracting from destructive development projects.
In late April, the news broke that one of Istanbul's historic urban gardens, or bostans, was demolished by the Fatih Municipality under Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
The bostan in the old city quarter of Yedikule was in fact destroyed over a month ago, while the novel coronavirus outbreak dominated the news following the March 11 announcement of Turkey’s first diagnosed case.
