Kobani trial results lead to bans in four cities

In a statement issued by the Diyarbakır Governor's Office, it was noted that since the court hearing for the case concerning the events that took place in 2014, known as the “October 6-8 Events”—during which attacks were carried out against the life and property of citizens and law enforcement officers—is known to be held at the Ankara 22nd High Criminal Court on May 16, 2024, it is assessed that terrorist organization sympathizers, marginal, and radical groups who desire to repeat the grave events that previously occurred in the city may attempt to carry out illegal actions/events across the province to -allegedly- protest these events, and that these actions/events could endanger public order and security and potentially trigger social conflict.

The statement mentioned that considering such actions and events could also take place in the city, which would disrupt public order and security and make it difficult to ensure the safety of life and property, the inviolability of the person, the security of property, and public welfare, it was stated: “All types of actions (gatherings, marches, press statements, hunger strikes, sit-ins, rallies, setting up stands, erecting tents, distributing leaflets/brochures, hanging posters/banners, etc.) intended to be held in open areas regarding the aforementioned events and the trial, as well as the entry of individuals and vehicles understood to be coming to participate in these actions into our provincial borders from other provinces, and for our outer districts, their departure to participate in these actions and/or their entry into our city center, have been banned within our provincial and district administrative boundaries (including the Gendarmerie region) for a period of (4) days from 18:45 on 16.05.2024 to 23:59 on 19.05.2024, in accordance with Articles 17 and 19 of the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911 and Articles 11/A, B, and C of the Provincial Administration Law No. 5442.”

SİİRT

In a statement issued by the Siirt Governor's Office, it was stated: “In order to prevent provocative actions that damage our national unity and solidarity, to establish national security, public order and safety, to protect the fundamental characteristics of the republic and the indivisible integrity of the state with its territory and nation, and to prevent possible illegal actions to avoid regrettable incidents, and considering that there are serious indications that public order and security will be disrupted in a way that stops or interrupts daily life, and that it will be difficult to ensure the safety of life and property, the inviolability of the person, the security of property, and public welfare, all types of actions that can be held in open and closed areas (gatherings, marches, press statements, indoor meetings, hunger strikes, sit-ins, rallies, setting up stands, erecting tents, distributing leaflets/brochures, hanging posters/banners, etc.), excluding events deemed appropriate by the Governor's and District Governor's offices, programs organized by public institutions and organizations, official holidays, official commemoration days, official ceremonies and celebrations, and sports activities, have been banned within our provincial and district administrative boundaries (including the Gendarmerie region) for a period of (4) days from 00:01 on 16.05.2024 to 23:59 on 19.05.2024, in accordance with Articles 17 and 19 of the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911 and Articles 11/A, B, and C of the Provincial Administration Law No. 5442.”

MARDİN

In the statement issued by the Mardin Governor's Office, it was stated: “In order to prevent actions and attacks that are assessed to directly and clearly create the conditions for limitation and prohibition stipulated in our Constitution and laws, to ensure the safety of life and property of our citizens, to thwart the plans of terrorist organizations, and with this intent, to ensure national security, protect public order and general health, prevent the commission of crimes, ensure the continuation of fundamental rights and freedoms as well as the rights and freedoms of others and general public order, and prevent the spread of violent incidents; within the geographical boundaries of Mardin province, for a period of 4 days from 18:00 on May 16, 2024, to 18:00 on May 20, 2024, activities such as demonstration marches, open-air meetings and indoor meetings, press statements, sit-ins, drone filming activities and conducting surveys, setting up/opening tents and stands, organizing signature campaigns, distributing leaflets, brochures, and flyers, and all kinds of protest actions to be organized according to the provisions of the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911 have been banned in line with the relevant articles of the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911 and the Provincial Administration Law No. 5442.”

BATMAN

In a statement issued by the Batman Governor's Office, it was stated that in order to ensure national security, protect public order and safety, prevent the commission of crimes, protect fundamental rights and freedoms as well as the rights and freedoms of others and general public order, and prevent the spread of violent incidents, activities such as demonstration marches, open-air and indoor meetings, press statements, sit-ins and conducting surveys, setting up tents and stands, organizing signature campaigns, distributing leaflets, brochures, and flyers, and all kinds of protest actions have been banned within the provincial borders for a period of 4 days from 00:01 on May 16 to 23:59 on May 19, excluding those deemed appropriate by the Governor's and District Governor's offices.

The statement added: “It has been decided that between the aforementioned dates, in order to prevent participation in any illegal actions/events related to the subjects mentioned in the organizational calls above and similar subjects, either individually or collectively from our districts or surrounding provinces, or by using our province's routes, the entry of individuals/groups likely to participate in illegal actions/events into our province and districts, and their departure from these places individually or collectively, will not be permitted in accordance with Article 11/c of the Provincial Administration Law No. 5442.”