Turkish politician and Member of Parliament, Murad Qurum, born in 1976, served as the Turkish Minister of Environment and Urban Planning between 2018 and 2023. He gained prominence in urban development, creating modern, safe, and healthy housing developments. Known for his ability to manage natural disaster risks, he is also passionate about environmental and climate issues. Murad Qurum has been nominated by the Alliance of the Republic as the candidate for Mayor of Istanbul in the upcoming elections scheduled for March 2024.
Early Life
Murad Mohammad Qurum was born on May 7, 1976, in the Çankaya region of Ankara. His father, Mohammad Qurum, hails from Konya city and worked as a civil engineer at the Ministry of Public Works and Housing. His mother, Sati Qurum, is a stay-at-home mom from the village of Kızılcahamam near Ankara.
Qurum grew up as the middle child and the only son among his two sisters, Delik and Didim, and spent his childhood moving between various Turkish states due to his father’s work: from Ankara to Konya, then Mardin, and back to Ankara. In his youth, he was active in sports, playing basketball for his school team.
He married Shenqul Qurum in 2000, who is one year his junior and works in education. The couple has three children: Mohammad, Zeynep, and Zahra.
Education and Scientific Training
Qurum began his schooling at the “Ghazi” primary school in Konya, then moved with his family to Mardin, where he continued his education at the “Atatürk” primary school. The family returned to Ankara, where he completed the fourth and fifth grades at the “Sıhhiye” primary school and went on to finishing his middle and high school education at the “Mimar Kemal” High School in Ankara.
He joined Selçuk University in Konya, enrolling in the Food Engineering department at the Faculty of Engineering. After the first academic year, he re-registered to study Civil Engineering at the same university, graduating in 1999.
Later, he attended the Institute of Science and Technology at Okan University, where he completed his master’s degree in Urban Transformation in 2017. In his thesis, he addressed problems such as urbanization, housing, poor neighborhoods, migration, and infrastructure, conducting a land inventory for the entire Istanbul using Geographic Information Systems.
Professional Career
Qurum started his professional career in civil engineering in 1999, working for various private sector institutions across Turkey over the years. Distinguished by his role as a site manager after the 2003 Bingöl earthquake, he completed approximately 250 apartments, delivering them within a period not exceeding 180 days.
In 2005, he joined the Mass Housing Development Administration (TOKİ) under the Prime Minister’s Office, working as an expert in the executive department in Ankara. In 2006, he became the Manager of TOKİ’s European Istanbul branch, overseeing more than 100 construction sites in Istanbul and managing projects in other provinces.
His excellence led to his appointment in 2009 as General Manager of “Emlak Konut,” a subsidiary of TOKİ, and a board member of the company. He was instrumental in growing the company, turning it into a well-known brand known for constructing modern, quality residences in Istanbul.
Minister of Environment and Urban Planning
Qurum’s success at “Emlak Konut” set the stage for his ministry role. Winning the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s trust, he was appointed as the Minister of Environment and Urban Planning in 2018.
During his ministerial term, he focused on urban development while preserving environmental safety, overseeing the construction of 365,000 housing units and organizing mass housing campaigns through TOKİ for low-income citizens to acquire homes.
His work in disaster management, especially during wildfires, floods, and earthquakes, drew significant attention. Following the February 2023 earthquake, which devastated many Turkish provinces, he stayed in the affected region for around two months, facilitating the construction of 180,000 temporary homes under the coordination of TOKİ and Emlak Konut.
Qurum also led initiatives to reinforce buildings and ensure the safety of tens of thousands of homes against earthquakes and natural disasters, notably in Istanbul, which is expected to face a significant quake soon. He championed the “Half on Us” campaign, called for by Erdoğan, aiming for urban regeneration in Istanbul with the government covering half of the rebuilding costs for old buildings.
As a minister, he managed to visit around 450 field sites across 81 cities, restoring 45 historic squares without compromising their historical and cultural identity. His efforts in environmental conservation included the “Zero Waste” project sponsored by First Lady Amina Erdoğan and the establishment of 484 public parks, 39 of them in Istanbul alone.
Under his tenure, the Paris Climate Agreement came into effect in Turkey, and the ministry’s name changed to include Climate Change. During the mucilage pollution in the Marmara Sea in June 2021, he was among the prominent figures who participated in the cleanup campaign titled “Marmara Sea is Ours to Share.”
Although not part of the government formed post the May 2023 elections, Qurum secured a seat in parliament as a representative of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Istanbul, serving as the Head of the Environmental Committee in the National Assembly.
Candidate for Istanbul Mayor
The Justice and Development Party proclaimed Murad Qurum as the candidate for Mayor of Istanbul from the Alliance of the Republic on January 7, 2024, for the local elections to be held in March 2024.
Qurum launched his “Rebuilding Istanbul” election campaign through pre-prepared videos shared on his social media accounts and actively engaged with local communities, youth groups, taxi drivers, merchants, visited cafes, and was in frequent contact with the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, addressing urban development challenges.
Renowned within the AKP ranks for his communication skills, problem-solving capabilities, and expertise in Istanbul’s urban landscape through his academic and practical background, Qurum is respected for his commitment to hard work and for steering clear of political wrangling.
Responsibilities and Positions
Murad Qurum has held various influential roles throughout his professional and political career, including:
- Manager of the executive department at the Mass Housing Development Administration’s European Istanbul branch between 2006 and 2009.
- General Manager of “Emlak Konut” and board member between 2009 and 2018.
- Minister of Environment, Urban Planning, and Climate Change between 2018 and 2023.
- Member of the Turkish Parliament for the Justice and Development Party in the 28th session in 2023.
