Turkish clothing brand fined for damaging Cappadocia fairy chimneys

A prominent clothing brand has been fined approximately ₺2 million ($59,345) by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism after using chemicals to attach cotton to the iconic fairy chimneys in Cappadocia for an advertising shoot.

The incident, which took place in the Cavusin village of the Avanos district, has sparked significant backlash from residents and authorities.

Unauthorized use of chemicals sparks outrage

An ad shoot in the Gulludere area, or “Valley of Monasteries,” was initially permitted for photography only. However, the crew was caught applying chemicals to the fairy chimneys, prompting immediate action from authorities.

Public outcry and immediate intervention

Residents of the region noticed the damage and promptly reported the situation to the authorities. Gendarmerie and officials quickly arrived at the scene to halt the shoot.

Umit Yildirim, a local photographer, expressed his dismay: “They stuffed cotton into Cappadocia. They claimed to be from a major company and applied chemicals to the walls before laying the cotton. It’s unbelievable that this could happen.”

Suleyman Ikman, another concerned local, added, “We are witnessing the damage caused by a famous textile company to the fairy chimneys in the area. We found that the cotton and fiber glued with chemicals have harmed the fairy chimneys.”

Legal consequences and penalties

In response to the incident, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism imposed a fine. Additionally, a criminal complaint has been filed against the company for damaging the cultural heritage site.