Turkey: Pro-Kurdish activists call for protests in Ankara, Istanbul, other cities July 31 /update 1

Event

Activists affiliated with the People's Democratic Party (HDP) have begun protesting in cities around the country on the evening of July 31 to denounce racism against the ethnic-Kurdish population. The protests follow the killing of seven members of a Kurdish family in Konya on the previous day. Participants plan to gather the following times and locations:

• Adana: 18:00 at Inonu Park

• Ankara: 19:00 at Cankaya Municipality headquarters

• Bodrum: 18:00 at Belediye Square

• Bursa: 19:00 at Fomara

• Diyarbakir: 18:00 at Ofis, AZC Plaza

• Istanbul: 19:00 at Taksim Square

• Izmir: 19:00 at Türkan Saylan

• Mersin: 18:00 at Ozgur Cocuk Park

Further protests are likely elsewhere, particularly in eastern and southern locations with sizeable Kurdish populations, in the coming days. Additional police will deploy to monitor proceedings, and associated security measures could prompt localized disruptions. Isolated clashes between police and activists are possible if demonstrators become disruptive or attempt to breach security cordons. While bystanders are unlikely to be targeted in any violence, they would face an indirect threat of physical harm.

Advice

Avoid the demonstrations as a routine security precaution and to mitigate associated disruptions. Heed instructions from security forces and leave the area at the first sign of a confrontation. Check for transport disruptions and allow extra time for travel in the vicinity of the demonstrations on the evening of July 31.