Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality rejected the annual AIDS walk organized by Positive Living Association on December 1 to create awareness on the issue.
Since 2008, the association has held walks on World AIDS Day to create awareness on one of world's most deadly diseases with walks where experts and medicine students informed the public by handing out pamphlets and condoms.
"We made our application on November 17 and expected that the municipality would allow our walk like every year. But two days ago, they sent us a letter of rejection without any explanation," Nejat Ünlü, association president and MD, said.
"The requested organization which will take place on December 1 World AIDS Day, is scheduled between 10am-2pm in Kadikoy with promotion activities , following a informative material distribution session in Besiktas. The metropolitan municipality found the organization not proper after a thorough investigation," the letter of rejection said.
After the rejection from the metropolitan municipality, the association requested another application from Beyoglu Municipality, a district in the European Istanbul.
"This year, we will have to organize our walk in Istiklal Avenue but we are not allowed to walk on the Taksim Square. Because the letter of rejection from Metropolitan Municipality includes a walk from all main squares of the city," Ünlü protested.
AIDS Walk will kick off tomorrow morning at 10am in Galatasaray. (ÇT)
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