FUAT PASHA YALI
One of the most famous yalis of the community of Istinye on the European side of the Bosphorus is the Deli 'Crazy' Fuat Pasha Yali. Situated amidst a green backdrop, this neo Classic-style yali dates back to the second half of the 19' century.
The jetty was added in front of the 600 In' yah between the years 1940-45. Constructed as a two-story structure over a service floor, the yali features a large hall, six rooms and a bathroom on the top floor as well as a hall, ten rooms and a bathroom on the lower floor. Its ground floor was completely changed as a result of the restoration work conducted in recent years.
Its first owner was the Iranian Ambassador, Muhsin Han. Later on, it was transferred to BEM Mehmed Efendi; then it was acquired by Serif Huseyin Bey, who was a state council member who was the King of the Hedjaz. It bears the name of its fourth owner, Fuat Pasha, who acquired it from Huseyin Bey. Besides his promotion to Marshal for his outstanding service as general during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78; he was highly appreciated by the public for his honesty and liberal actions during the AbdulHamid II era. Born in Egypt in 1835, Fuat Pasha arrived in Istanbul in 1869 and was employed in the Supreme Military Assembly. Fuat Pasha was eventually appointed to Austria and Russia with the title of ambassador extraordinaire. Fuat Pasha was not reticent in openly criticizing the negative aspects of AbdulHamid II's policies and statesmen and was nicknamed 'Crazy' because of his veracity and recklessness. The pasha drew attention to himself to the point that an armed confrontation took place between detectives observing his home and the pasha's men. Fuat Pasha was tried in a military court of law and sentenced to death for insulting civil servants. Fuat Pasha's sentence was commuted to exile by AbdulHamid, whereas the pasha was exiled to Damascus. Having lived six years abroad, the pasha returned to Istanbul with the proclamation of the Second Constitutional Monarchy and became a member of the Deputy Assembly. Continuing his involvement despite his advanced age, the pasha participated in the National Struggle as much as his physical and mental condition allowed him and passed away at the age of 96 after experiencing the happiness of seeing the enemy booted out of his country.
The pasha's namesake yali in Istinye features a garden comprised of magnolia and colometries diomedea flowers which is as colorful as the pasha himself. In order to restore the marble pool situated right behind the yali which once had a belvedere in the garden, it was taken up to the embankment and connected to the city water grid. Two graves with their gravestones painted green remain from the district's old cemetery. Utilized as a warehouse during the early decades of the Republic, the structure's harem section was eventually demolished, and a part was appropriated during work to widen the shore road. It was transferred to the Denizcilik Bankasi in 1956 and then Turkiye Shipping Industry, Inc., and finally to the Treasury in 1995. It currently houses the offices of Turkey's delegation to BSEC (Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization). Although many renovations undertaken by this beautiful structure, which once hosted Abdullah, the King of Jordan, have removed it slightly from its original state, it continues to ornate Istinye Bay as one of the favorites of the Bosphorus.
