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A 15-day ban has been imposed on all demonstrations and events in Van, whose elected Metropolitan Mayor Bedia Özgökçe Ertan from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) was removed from office by the Ministry of Interior on August 19. The governor of the province has been appointed as the Acting Mayor or trustee to the municipality.
In the announcement of the Van Governorship, it has been indicated that "all types of demonstrations and events such as all types of open-air marches, meetings and associations, statements for the press, sit-in protests, opening of stands and the like within the geographical boundaries of Van have been banned for 15 days from August 27 to September 10, 2019."
The Governorship has also indicated that the ban in question has been imposed "with the aim of eliminating all actions and plans of attack considered to directly and openly meet the conditions of restriction and ban foreseen by the Constitution and laws, ensuring the safety of life and property of people, eliminating the plans of terrorist organizations, maintaining national security, protecting public order and security, preventing the committal of crimes, protecting fundamental rights and freedoms as well as the fundamental rights and freedoms of others and public peace and preventing the spread of incidents of violence."
Ban in effect since November 21, 2016
On November 21, 2016, all demonstrations and events were banned in Turkey's eastern province of Van based on the State of Emergency declared in the country after the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016.
CLICK - Demonstrations and Events Banned in Van for 999 Days
Extended for 15-day periods since the day when it was first imposed on November 21, 2016, the ban has been once again extended for another 15 days by the Governorship of Van on August 26.
Ban in Diyarbakır and Mardin still in effect
The Ministry of Interior announced that they dismissed Metropolitan Mayor of Diyarbakır Selçuk Mızraklı, Metropolitan Mayor of Mardin Ahmet Türk and Metropolitan Mayor of Van Bedia Özgökçe Ertan on August 19.
Afterwards, a 30-day ban on demonstrations and events was imposed in Mardin and a 15-day ban was imposed in Diyarbakır on August 20. (TP/SD)
