CHP's Palestine protest blocked by police, İmamoğlu lashes out: 'Hypocrisy, double standards'

The march that the CHP planned to hold from Tünel to Taksim to protest the violence in Palestine was blocked by the police.

While the CHP group was surrounded by police, who claimed the protest was unauthorized, CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik reacted to the events.

A reaction to the police blockade also came from Ekrem İmamoğlu. İmamoğlu shared a message of reaction from the Marmara Prison, where he is being held, and used the following expressions:

"The march that our Istanbul Provincial Chairmanship wanted to hold from Tünel to Taksim, saying 'No to genocide, massacre, and displacement in Gaza,' was blocked by hundreds of police, barricades, and metro closures. 

While even in Israel, anti-Netanyahu demonstrations are permitted, I leave those who do not allow a peaceful march in the middle of Istanbul to the conscience of our nation. 

This government usurps the right of young people to demonstrate at home, while abroad, it cannot make a single effective move against the displacement plan in Gaza. 

Defending the rights of the Palestinian people is a humanitarian duty. But the government chooses to silence even those who advocate for this.

By arresting young people today, blocking marches, and silencing those who raise their voices against displacement, you are doing no good for either Palestine or this nation.

We will not succumb to double standards, hypocrisy, or fear; we will continue to speak the truth."

The march that our Istanbul Provincial Chairmanship wanted to hold from Tünel to Taksim, saying “No to genocide, massacre, and displacement in Gaza,” was blocked by hundreds of police, barricades, and metro closures.

While even in Israel, anti-Netanyahu demonstrations are permitted; in the middle of Istanbul…

— Ekrem İmamoğlu (@ekrem_imamoglu) April 19, 2025

News Source: 12punto