Cengiz Holding Turns Paradise Cove into a Hellscape! Now Moving from Land to Sea

Cengiz Holding has embarked on a massive tourism and luxury villa construction project in Cennetkoy, one of the last untouched coves of Bodrum, despite the area being an archaeological heritage site.

In just 16 months, they have transformed 678,000 square meters of land in the Gökburun Peninsula into a barren desert, proceeding even as municipal and NGO legal challenges have failed to stop the development. The holding is now setting its sights on a marine area that serves as a habitat for Mediterranean monk seals. The destruction of Gökburun Peninsula has been documented by SÖZCÜ Newspaper.

Driven by profit, Cengiz Holding has laid waste to Cennetkoy, bulldozing every part of the Gökburun Peninsula and now plans to build a breakwater in the protected marine area that hosts the monk seals. The company has leveraged environmental review (ÇED) loopholes to continue construction, selling villas for $5-10 million.

In 2022, Cengiz Holding acquired the 678,000-square-meter parcel in the natural and archaeological site of Cennetkoy in Bodrum’s Gölköy neighborhood from the Privatization Administration. Despite Bodrum Municipality revoking the construction permit in 2023, Cengiz Holding won an appeal to resume work.

 Dozens of Bulldozers and Hundreds of Trucks Invade Natural and Archaeological Area

After winning the court case, Cengiz Holding sent dozens of heavy machinery and hundreds of trucks into Gökburun Peninsula, transforming the natural and archaeological landscape into a desert of concrete in just 16 months. Although TMMOB’s Bodrum District Coordination Council continues to fight in court to cancel the sale and permits, Cennet Peninsula has been laid to waste, with every inch dug up, as documented by SÖZCÜ.

From Land to Sea: Targeting Seal Habitat

Cengiz Holding, having excavated nearly all the peninsula, now has its sights on the protected marine area surrounding the peninsula, home to Mediterranean monk seals and sea caves, where they plan to build a breakwater.

A Marina in a Protected Seal Habitat

– The area is a breeding and sheltering ground for the endangered Mediterranean monk seals and is designated as a protected area. Yet, Cengiz Holding is building submerged breakwaters and concrete barriers, disrupting the natural shoreline.

– Future expansion plans reportedly include a marina to dock yachts. Archaeological protections on the peninsula have even been downgraded from first- to third-degree to facilitate construction.

 “Neither We Nor the Government Could Protect World Heritage”

Nihat Koyuncu, a member of Bodrum City Council’s Environmental Committee, stated, “Cengiz Holding has turned one of Bodrum’s few public coves, a natural and archaeological site, into a desert for profit. This is not only for the people of Bodrum but is part of the world’s heritage. It’s unfortunate that the government remains a spectator to the destruction of such beauty. We Bodrum residents will continue our fight until this project is canceled. After years of protest, the government still seems blind to Cennetkoy’s destruction.” (SÖZCÜ)