Ankara Governorship Bans All Demonstrations During October

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Ankara Governorship has expanded the demonstration ban that it started in some areas of the downtown on September 26. All mass demonstrations were banned in the entire city during October.

The justification for the ban was announced as that the demonstrations to be held in support of Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça, who have been on hunger strike for 209 days, “may jeopardize public safety”:

“These sorts of demonstrations may disturb the people around since the citizens prefer spending time at parks; terror organizations such as DEAŞ (ISIS –Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-) may launch attacks on the participants and citizens, thus may jeopardize public safety”.

Gülmen and Özakça were described as the “Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP-C) Public Laborers Front (KEC) members”.

October 10 is the second anniversary for the Ankara massacre. The governorship in its statement noted that all mass events, protest and demonstrations including hunger strike, sit-in protest, reunion and concert were banned. (TP/EKN/TK)