14 Oct 2023 | 07:33 PM UTC
Turkey: Pro-Palestine rally to take place in Istanbul's Maltepe district Oct. 15
Activist groups to stage pro-Palestine rally in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 15. Increased security, localized transport disruptions likely.
Event
Several activist groups plan to stage a mass demonstration in Istanbul during the afternoon of Oct. 15 to show solidarity with Palestine and condemn the actions of the Israeli government. Organized primarily by the Saadet (Felicity) Party and dubbed the "Free Palestine Rally," the event will take place at the Maltepe Event Grounds (Maltepe Etkinlik Alani) starting at 14:00. The gathering will probably draw a very large crowd; organizers have arranged for buses to transport participants to the rally from other cities, including Bursa, Afyonkarahisar, and Konya.
Although the rally will likely remain largely peaceful, authorities will almost certainly deploy a heavy police presence as a precaution. Localized transport disruptions and increased crowding on public transport, including on ferries serving the Maltepe Ferry Terminal, are likely as attendees travel to and from the demonstration.
Advice
Avoid the rally location as a standard precaution. Allow significant extra time to reach destinations near the Maltepe waterfront during the afternoon of Oct. 15, particularly if driving along the D100 or Turgut Ozal Boulevard. Heed the instructions of local authorities.
