‘No to War’ Ban in İstanbul Till March 10

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The Governorship of İstanbul has banned the meetings and demonstrations to be held in the city till March 10 at 23.59 p.m.

In a written statement released by the Governorship, it has been announced that "events such as meetings and protest marches, press statements, opening stands, collecting signatures, distributing leaflets, pamphlets, etc. with the aim of criticizing or creating public opinion to call for an end to the military operations conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces in Syria have been banned from March 1 at 00.01 to March 10 at 11.59 p.m."

Reason: Public order

In its statement, the Governorship has indicated that "hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives in the civil war which has been raging in Syria since 2011 and six million Syrians have had to leave their country."

Referring to the "Operation Spring Shield" launched by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) into Syria's Idlib following the airstrike that claimed the lives of 34 soldiers, the Governorship has indicated the following:

"In such a sensitive period when we have martyrs and veterans, it has been considered that verbal and physical incidents of provocative nature could arise between our citizens and the groups/persons who will hold events and demonstrations such as meetings, marches, press statements, petitions, open stands/tents, distribute leaflets and pamphlets, etc. in the name of 'No to War' etc., which can jeopardize the maintenance of public order, prevention of crimes and protection of others' rights and freedoms.

"Within this context, with the aim of ensuring peace and security, maintaining public order, preventing committal of crimes, protecting the rights and freedoms of others and preventing deplorable and provocative incidents within the borders of our province, the events such as meetings and protest marches, press statements, opening of stands, collecting signatures, distributing leaflets, pamphlets, etc. with the aim of criticizing or creating public opinion to call for an end to the military operations conducted by our Turkish Armed Forces in Syria have been banned for a period of ten (10) days as od March 1 at 00.01 until March 10 at 11.59 p.m."

As indicated by the Governorship, the ban in question has been imposed as per the Articles 11/A and 11/C of the Law no. 5442 on Provincial Administration and the Articles 17 and 19 of the Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations. (DB/SD)