Mehmet Şimşek protested in his hometown of Batman

The halting of traffic in the city center during the visit of Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, who wanted to spend the Ramadan Feast in his hometown of Batman, sparked reactions from many citizens. The suspension of vehicle passage at key intersections of the city as part of security measures taken by police teams caused long queues in traffic, especially at the Hasankeyf Intersection.

Some citizens, who had to wait in their vehicles for hours, expressed their reactions by opening their windows or through videos they recorded with their mobile phones. Some drivers shouted, "There is not an ounce of justice in our country that closes the entire road. You are not welcome, Mehmet Şimşek."

Booing for Mehmet Şimşek

The road that Minister Şimşek was to pass through in his hometown of Batman was closed to traffic. The lengthening vehicle queue and locked roads caused citizens to revolt: "You are not welcome!" (Batman Burada) pic.twitter.com/GbjcL1aDDQ

— Haber Aktif (@haberaktifcom) March 22, 2026

Despite all these events, there were also fellow citizens who supported Minister Şimşek during his visit to Batman. Some citizens greeted Şimşek's vehicle with applause as he passed. The traffic regulation implemented for security reasons caused short-term tensions in the city and occasional arguments between drivers and the police.