Demonstration Ban in Hakkari and Van

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The Governorship of Hakkari has announced that all protest demonstrations and similar events have been banned in the city center, districts and areas that fall within the jurisdiction of the gendarmerie for 30 days from 12 p.m. on May 19 to 23.59 p.m. on June 17, 2019.

Accordingly, as per the Articles 17 and 19 of the Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, all actions and events such as meetings, assemblies, protest marches, sit-in protests, hunger strikes, setting up tents and opening stands in public places such as squares, avenues, streets, roads and parks in the province have been banned.

Statement by Hakkari Governorship

In a statement published on the official website of the Governorship, it has been stated that the demonstration ban has been introduced considering that "events might be organized by justifying them on the grounds of operations conducted against the Kurdistan Workers Party/Kurdistan Communities Union (PKK/KCK), Fethullahist Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Organization (FETÖ/PDY) and other terrorist organizations."

10-day demonstration ban in Van

Releasing a written statement on its website, the Governorship of Van has also declared that all meetings and demonstrations have been banned in the province for 10 days as of May 19. The reason for the ban has been explained as "protecting people's safety of life and property."

A similar ban was previously introduced in Van on April 30; the May Day celebrations were permitted despite this 10-day ban. (TP/AS/SD)