Istanbul Governor’s Office released a statement on May Day ban in Taksim this morning, saying that May Day demonstrations are banned in Taksim Square for reasons associated with “inability to control the demonstrations and life and property safety.”
The governor reminded that DİSK, KESK, TMMOB and TTB applied to the governance on April 28th according to ECHR’s decision (27.11.2012 dated and 39676/08 application numbered) and Clause 4 of Law No 2219 on Public Demonstrations and Gatherings.
“Taksim Square will cause serious problems”
Referring to the domestic and international regulations on the right to demonstrate (Turkish Constitution Article 34 and European Declaration of Human Rights Article 11), İstanbul governor declared that there are also restrictions on the issue regulated by Law No.2911. He added that they have designated 6 demonstration zones which will be available for demonstrations with public transport access.
The statement continued that “If demonstrations and gatherings cannot be controlled, evacuation of the participants from the area would cause serious problems and their life and property safety would be in danger”.
“The intelligence agencies have information on illegal terror organizations which will cause violence towards the security officers and safety, freedom and order of the public will be impossible.”
“Against the nature of peaceful gatherings”
The statement included that Taksim Square and Taksim neighborhood’s incapability for demonstrations and gatherings. “Taksim is a crowded tourism area which has traffic and many hotels any discomfort at that area will affect our country’s tourism potential, economics and publicity negatively.”
"Gatherings and demonstrations can be held peacefully at the designated zones," tjhe statement concluded. (AS/ENÜ/BM)
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.
