Super Turk

This is Super Turk. I have this cushion version of him, along with one I call Kebab Man, from the store Take Away Istanbul in Kanyon. As you can see, he's a real person who is iconic on Istiklal. Here's an excerpt about him from the article "The Unchanging Faces on Pickpocket Avenue" in the Turkish Daily News, 11/15/98, by Hakan Aslaneli:

"Besides certain groups, the unchanging faces of Istiklal Avenue include some personages. First among these is Mustafa Yagci, known as Pala Sair. Yagci, 46, has walked back and forth on Istiklal Avenue for the last 10 years, undeterred by rain or mud. His most important characteristics are a long, thick moustache and a rosary made of walnut-size beads. Among the badges on the lapel of his striped suits, those designating the "Republic" and "Ataturk" are the most striking. He speaks only if someone addresses him, otherwise, he keeps to himself. Yagci, who is a point of high interest for tourists strolling on the avenue, has appeared as an extra in several movies. According to him, he should be ranked among the foremost of Turkey's poets and politicians. Yagci's mental health has not been investigated until now. The regulars of Beyoglu feel uneasy if they do not see him for a single day. Yagci is one of the most colorful of the unchanging faces on Istiklal Avenue, although few people know where he lives or how he makes a living. He only appears during the day, disappearing in a flash when it gets dark."