The story of Şişli Courthouse: From Manukyan’s tenancy to Çağlayan Justice Palace.

The former Sisli Courthouse building, rented to the Ministry of Justice by the brothel madam Matild Manukyan, has been serving as a 4-star hotel since 2019. The courthouse, which became the target of reactions with the slogan ‘How can justice be sought in Manukyan’s building’, was moved to Caglayan Courthouse in 2012. The former courthouse building, which never left the agenda of Turkey with its cases, fights, trials, and investigations, was captured on camera from the air. Matild Manukyan, a Turkish Armenian who started her career as a tailor, became a partner in one of the brothels because she could not pay the rent of her father’s buildings. Increasing the number of brothels she operated to 37, Manukyan began to be known as a brothel madam. Turning the money she earned from brothels into real estate, she increased the number of properties inherited from her family and became the top taxpayer six times. Matild Manukyan, who has hundreds of apartments and dozens of office buildings, operated the building number 179 in Sisli, which served for years as the Sisli Courthouse and Municipality building. The use of a building owned by a brothel madam for the distribution of justice sparked great controversy and became a hot topic in Turkey. On the other hand, Manukyan was tried in the building she rented to the Ministry of Justice. The building of Manukyan, vacated with the opening of Caglayan Courthouse in 2012, remained unused for years. The building, which served as Sisli Courthouse for a long time, was later sold to an investor by Manukyan’s only heir, her son Kerope Cilingir. Huseyin Yuksel, the owner of Gevrekli Tourism, which operates Taksim Hill, Art Hotel, Caucasus Hotel, Panorama Health Club, and Florya Mansion Hotel, turned the former Sisli Courthouse, which he bought from an investor in 2018, into a 4-star hotel. With 6 suites and 2 king suites, the 10-story building with a total of 128 rooms also includes a restaurant, breakfast hall, winter garden, meeting rooms, and parking lot, has been operating as ‘Bade Hotel’ since 2019. In the corridors where fights and discussions were common, room service carts and bellboys carrying guests’ luggage are now seen. The rooms that used to serve as courtrooms, pen, or judge’s room are now used as king suites, suites, and double rooms. The former Sisli Courthouse, which has been converted into a hotel and was once a hot topic in Turkey, was captured on camera from the air.
Archaeologist Historian Omer Faruk Yavascay, who tells the story of the former Sisli Courthouse building, said, ‘Manukyan is a Turkish Armenian, a brothel madam. The reason she is famous is the brothels on Giraffe Street in Beyoglu. Most of the houses on that street belonged to her. She ruined the lives of many women. She was making millions of dollars a year. With this money, she acquired real estate primarily in Istanbul and many other places. Her father is Armenian, and her mother is Swiss. She started her professional career as a tailor. She started this business by becoming a partner in a brothel in Karakoy. The number of brothels she operated exceeded 30. She turned the money she earned from brothels into real estate and became the top taxpayer six times. She has hundreds of real estates and dozens of office buildings. One of them is the former courthouse building in Sisli. The former Sisli Courthouse was previously a han (inn). Manukyan bought the han with the money she earned. It is said that she also operated this business in the han. She owned it for years. Later, she rented it to the Ministry of Justice. Therefore, some circles have shown reactions. There have been reactions like ‘How can justice be sought in Manukyan’s building.’ Caglayan Courthouse opened in 2012. With the opening of the courthouse, that building was closed and remained empty for years. In 2018, it was purchased by a businessman.’
‘The former Sisli Courthouse, which never left the agenda of Turkey, continues its life as a hotel today.’ Yavascay, who stated that the former Sisli Courthouse was bought by a businessman and turned into a hotel, said, ‘There are 6 suites and 2 king suites in the hotel. It is a 4-star hotel. Also, Manukyan was tried in a place she owned, which is a very important detail. All of Manukyan’s inheritance passed on to her son Kerope Cilingir. The building was first sold by her son to an investor. The investor then sold it to Gevrekli Tourism. The former Sisli Courthouse, which never left the agenda of Turkey, continues its life as a hotel today.’