Turkiye: Ruling AKP party to host major rally in Istanbul to show support for Palestine Oct. 28

Turkiye's ruling Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi, AKP) will stage a major rally in Istanbul on Oct. 28. The purpose of the event is to show support for the people of Palestine. The gathering will begin at 15:00 at the grounds of the now-closed Ataturk Airport in the city's Bakirkoy district. The rally will almost certainly draw an extremely large number of participants. Several high-ranking political and governmental figures will attend.

Several road closures will enter into effect in the surrounding area starting at 07:00. Closed thoroughfares will include portions of Yeni Havaalani Avenue, the Istanbul Convention Center-World Trade Center cut-off, Ataturk Havalimani Road, Mimar Basri Mete Street, and Metro Station Street, among others. In order to facilitate attendance, passengers may ride the Geyrettepe-Istanbul Airport metro line and the Marmaray commuter rail services free of charge on the day of the event.

Although the gathering will likely remain peaceful, authorities will almost certainly deploy a heavy police presence near Ataturk Airport and along major transport routes leading to the venue as a precaution. Significant traffic disruptions are likely in the Bakirkoy district through Oct. 28.