Varyap

In Turkey, mosques have a dual spiritual and economic purpose. This surprised me when I first moved to the country more than a decade ago. I expected God and money to be kept separate, at least outwardly, more in keeping with the discreet, cash-in-envelopes Christian churches of my youth.

The hike in housing prices is well above the average inflation, according to Central Bank data, whereas dramatic falls in sales, especially in mortgaged sales, are being experienced as investors are irritated by the falling demand and increased interest rates Housing construction has been a significant tool in the rise of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government.