Kocaeli Governorship Bans Demonstrations Against Syria Operation

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Releasing a written statement on its official website, the Governorship of Kocaeli has announced that all events and demonstrations to be held against Turkey's Operation Peace Spring have been banned for 15 days.

The Governorship has indicated that the ban in question has been imposed "upon receiving serious unconfirmed information suggesting an imminent disturbance of public order and public safety".

The Governorship of Urfa also released a statement earlier today (October 10) and announced that press members who will try to take pictures or videos in places declared "Special Security Zones" will be prevented and a legal action will be taken against them.

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'Deplorable incidents could occur'

In its statement, the Governorship has referred to the "Operation Peace Spring launched against the PKK/YPG and DAESH terrorist organizations in northern Syria" and indicated that "non-governmental organization, persons and groups might organize events/demonstrations in protest against Operation Peace Spring and deplorable incidents could occur after opposing groups face off against each other as a result".

Referring to the "serious unconfirmed information suggesting an imminent disturbance of public order and safety", the Governorship of Kocaeli has banned "all types of events and demonstrations to be held in the provicne in protest against the Operation Peace Spring, including open and closed space meetings, marches, statements for the press, sit-in protests, setting up tents and distribution of leaflets".

The entry of people and vehicles to the province to support the above-mentioned events has also been banned by the Governorship.

The ban will be in effect for 15 days as of October 10 to 24. (TP/SD)