Turkey: Police detain protesters in Istanbul August 5

Event

A group of demonstrators supporting two educators on hunger strike gathered outside the Süreyya Opera House in the Kadıköy area of Istanbul on Saturday, August 5. According to media reports, the protesters refused to end their demonstration after being ordered the leave the area by the police. The police officers dispersed the crowd and arrested 33 people. Later in the day the authorities released all those who had been detained. Additional protests may be held in the coming weeks.

Context

On August 2 the Governor’s Office of Ankara announced a month-long ban on all demonstrations in public spaces related to the ongoing hunger strike of two educators. The two teachers have been on hunger strike for almost 150 days. 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.

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.