Inside the murky world of Istanbul’s taxi cartels

Turkey's biggest city's drivers caught in brutal power struggle between politicians, unions and wealthy licence holders

Beneath the minarets of Istanbul's fabled skyline, an unusual turf war is simmering between the powerful taxi owners' association and the city authorities.

Being a cab driver in the metropolis spanning two continents and three waterways isn't easy. Unlike other global cities, drivers don't own their own cars - instead, Istanbul's 50,000 cabbies rent the 17,395 licensed cars in operation, working in shifts.