Investigation Launched into Beşiktaş Municipality by Ministry of Interior

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İstanbul Governorship has launched an investigation into Beşiktaş Municipality due to alleged "incentive newspaper advertisements and other actions which provoked people and disturbed public order" with regards to the national holiday on May 19, the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day.

Upon İstanbul Governorship banning the celebrations on the national holiday on May 19, the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, Beşiktaş Municipality a had prepared an advertisement illustration showing May 19 behind bars and had written "banned by the Government" on billboards with banners "First step March" which refer the the connection between Beşiktaş district and the spread of the republican administration after its proclamation.

Launching an investigation into Beşiktaş Municipality, the Ministry of Interior in its statement on Saturday (May 20) said:

"Beşiktaş Mayor's Office has planned an event called "Youth Festival" to take place on May 19, yet the İstanbul Governorship has not found the event proper. However the Beşiktaş Municipality insisted on its request and wanted to conduct the activity without permission.

"The same situation had also occurred on December 31 - January 1 New Year's night and despite all the warnings [...] Beşiktaş Municipality had avoided cooperation with public authorities and organized New Year's celebration on the on Ortaköy Square".

Adding that the Mayor of Beşiktaş had "put himself in the place of the law-maker and the authority in charge of public order" and "used incentive newspaper advertisements as a political tool", the Minister of Interior has launched an investigation into the municipality. (NV/DG)