Police intervention against Peace rally in İstanbul: 57 people detained

* Photo: T24

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The event to be held by the İstanbul Labor, Peace and Democracy Forces on the occasion of September 1 World Peace Day was prevented by the police in Taksim Tünel yesterday (September 5).

As reported by Gazete Duvar news website, the celebration to be held in the Bakırköy Bazaar Area was first permitted by the İstanbul Governor's Office; however, it has been banned by the Ministry of Interior. The Governor's Office has also withdrawn its previous permission.

ESP Co-Chair taken into custody

With the permission revoked, the organization committee and the İstanbul Labor, Peace and Democracy Forces, which organized the gathering, came together in Tünel in Beyoğlu. The group was prevented by hundreds of police officers. While Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Musa Piroğlu and journalists were surrounded by the police, Şahin Tümüklü, the Chair of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), was detained.

The police then attacked the group who wanted to enter Tünel. Several people were detained. The journalists who wanted to film the moment of detention were prevented by the police who raised their shields.

HDP İstanbul MP Musa Piroğlu was blockaded by police shields for nearly two hours. With their press statement prevented from taking place, the group started marching towards Karaköy.

Then, it was announced that "58 people were detained."

'The biggest fear of the government is peace'

After the police blockade was lifted, Musa Piroğlu made a statement at Taksim Tünel square on his own. Piroğlu briefly said:

"Our rally was accepted by the governor's office. We started making preparations. Then, I don't know by whom it was ordered to do so, but the Bakırköy Sub-Governor's Office announced that it cancelled the rally. In response to this, we came here to make a statement for the press.

"Since I entered the square, the police put up a blockade, detained dozens of people and did not let the press statement take place. Because the biggest fear of this government is a request for peace in this country.

"The biggest fear of this government is that the HDP voters stand side by side with other dissidents in Turkey.

"This is the power that will take down this government. That is why they are trying to isolate us and terrorize us under blockade.

"As long as we raise our voice, this blockade will not work. I am a Member of the Parliament. It means that those who silence a Member of the Parliament will not let anyone speak in this country." (RT/SD)

* Photo: Ferhat Yaşar/Gazete Duvar