Turkey: Month-long ban on public demonstrations August 2017

Event

The Governor’s Office of Ankara released a statement on Wednesday, August 2, announcing a month-long ban on all demonstrations in public spaces. This ban is reportedly in response to received intelligence that protests, in the form of sit-ins and hunger strikes, were to take place in support of two educators currently approaching the 150th day of their hunger strike. They were among the hundreds of thousands of public workers to be dismissed during the purges following the July 2016 coup. Both individuals were arrested on the 75th day of their hunger strike over their alleged involvement in terrorist activities. Protests for their release have been staged periodically since their arrest.

Officials claim that such demonstrations create easy targets for terrorist attacks as well as disturb public peace by monopolizing public spaces. Demonstrations are possible despite the ban, and could result in a heavy-handed security response.

Context

The government is able to enact and enforce such a ban under the terms of the country’s ongoing state of emergency, which was extended on July 17.

In the over one year since the July 2016 coup, some 50,000 people have been arrested, including journalists, public servants and human rights activists, and a further 140,000 have lost their jobs for their alleged ties to the Hizmet (Gulenist) movement – the alleged organizers of the coup attempt who have been at odds with Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP). 

Critics have denounced the increasing government crackdown on political opponents and / or dissenting voices as current president Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to use the July 2016 failed coup as an excuse to extend his powers and prolong the state of emergency.

Advice

Individuals in Turkey, particularly in Ankara and Istanbul, are advised to exercise caution and avoid public demonstrations and gatherings in urban areas due to the risk of violence.