Peace Day bans in İstanbul and Eskişehir

"Peace" - Photo: Evrensel newspaper

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Today is September 1 World Peace Day. Ahead of the rally to be held by the labor, peace and democracy forces in İstanbul's Bakırköy on September 5 on this occasion, the Sub-Governor's Office of Bakırköy has banned all types of meetings and demonstrations for five days.

The Office has announced that activities and events such as meetings, protest marches, press statements and sit-in protests will be banned across the district for five days, lasting from September 2 to 6.

The Sub-Governor's Office has also indicated that the events to be held in the district on September 1 will be permitted.

In its written statement about the issue, the Sub-Governor's Office of Bakırköy has briefly stated, "It has been understood that on the occasion of September 1 World Peace Day, various political parties, civil society organizations and some illegal entities are engaged in activities to organize meetings, protest marches, etc. in our district on September 5, 2021."

Noting that the events to be held on September 1, 2021 will be permitted, the Sub-Governor's Office has said that "even though it was announced that no events would be permitted in the next days, it was seen that calls in violation of the Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations continued on social media and some communication channels."

Accordingly, the Office has announced that "activities such as all types of meetings and protest marches, press statements and sit-in protests will be banned across Bakırköy from September 2 to 6."

While the ban has been imposed as per the Law no. 5442 on Provincial Administration and the Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, the aims of the ban have been announced as follows:

"Preventing unlawful protests and activities and committal of crimes, preventing potential incidents and their irreversible consequences, securing peace and security, protecting public order and welfare..."

15-day ban by Eskişehir Governor's Office

The Governor's Office of Eskişehir has also announced that events such as all types of protests, marches and sit-in protests will be banned across the province for 15 days, starting from September 1.

In banning the public meetings and demonstrations in Eskişehir, the Governor's Office has referred to "the ongoing works of disinformation, especially on social media, and the potential incidents that may arise in the event that groups with opposing views face off."

Noting that the aforementioned incidents "might disturb public peace and security", the Governor's Office has said that "there might be an incapability to protect people's peace and security, personal immunity, security, public health and morality, including that of the ones to participate in the outdoor meetings, and to protect the rights and freedoms of others."

Accordingly, the Governor's Office of Eskişehir has banned all types of public gatherings (meetings and attempted meetings, marches, sit-in protests, setting up stand/tent, distributing leaflets, protest demonstrations, etc.) from 00.01 on September 1 to 24:00 on September 15.

The official ceremonies and press statements approved by the Governor's Office and Sub-Governor's Offices and the ones to be held by public institutions have been exempted from the ban. (KÖ/SD)