Beyoğlu Municipality removes Palestinian flag from Cihangir stairs: 'The flag of a resisting nation belongs in the sky, not on the ground'

While Israel has continued its attacks on Palestine for more than 9 months, voices of support for Palestine are rising from many parts of the world. Recently, a group painted the Cihangir stairs in Istanbul in the colors of the Palestinian flag. Beyoğlu Municipality cleaned the paint from the stairs, stating, 'The flag of a resisting nation belongs in the sky, not on the ground.'

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Beyoğlu Municipality removes Palestinian flag from Cihangir stairs: 'The flag of a resisting nation belongs in the sky, not on the ground'

Beyoğlu Municipality has removed the paint from the Cihangir stairs, which had been painted in the colors of the Palestinian flag.

In a statement made by the municipality, it was emphasized that depicting the Palestinian flag on stairs stepped on by dozens of people wounded the public conscience, and it was stated, "A symbolic image of Handala, one of the symbols of the Palestinian intifada, has been hung in the area to be drawn permanently later, instead of the flag. The Palestinian flag will take its place in a spot it deserves and that suits it, in a way that it is in the sky, not on the ground."

'THE FLAG BELONGS IN THE SKY, NOT ON THE GROUND'

Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney also stated in a post on his social media account, "The flag of a resisting nation belongs in the sky, not on the ground," and added, "Especially painting the flag of a nation fighting for its existence on a walking route is hurtful and wrong. Every nation's flag is sacred. For this reason, it became mandatory for us to remove the flag painting on the stairs."

The Istanbul Provincial Representative of the YediHilal Association painted the Cihangir stairs in Beyoğlu in the colors of the Palestinian flag to show reaction to Israel's attacks and to support Gaza. Beyoğlu Municipality teams erased the paint and restored the stairs to their former state.

In the statement made by the municipality regarding the subject, the following was recorded:

'DEPICTING THE FLAG ON STAIRS STEPPED ON BY DOZENS OF PEOPLE HAS WOUNDED THE PUBLIC CONSCIENCE'

"A need has arisen to make a statement regarding the Palestinian flag drawn on the stairs known as Salı Pazarı Yokuşu in Cihangir.

According to the statements of eyewitnesses, it was determined that the stairs were painted with the colors of the Palestinian flag by an unidentified group of young people around 06:00 on Sunday, August 4, 2024. Depicting the flag of Palestine, which is struggling against a genocidal massacre, on stairs stepped on by dozens of people has wounded the public conscience.

As Beyoğlu Municipality, since we consider the flags of nations sacred, in order to support the Palestinian people, whose rightful cause we stand by, in a way that will not hurt them, a symbolic image of Handala, one of the symbols of the Palestinian intifada, has been hung in the area to be drawn permanently later, instead of the flag.

A need has arisen to make a statement regarding the Palestinian flag drawn on the stairs known as Salı Pazarı Yokuşu in Cihangir.

According to the statements of eyewitnesses, it was determined that the stairs were painted with the colors of the Palestinian flag by an unidentified group of young people around 06:00 on Sunday, August 4, 2024... pic.twitter.com/fzUUOE1WDg
— Beyoğlu Belediyesi (@BeyogluBld) August 5, 2024

'WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEFEND THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE BY RESPECTING NATIONAL SYMBOLS'

The Palestinian flag will take its place in a spot it deserves and that suits it, in a way that it is in the sky, not on the ground.

Accompanied by our security forces, our neighbors were informed with a banner hung on the stairs so that the work carried out would not lead to misunderstandings.

We will continue to defend the rightful cause of the Palestinian people by respecting national symbols.

Respectfully submitted to the public."

İnan Güney's statement is as follows:

"The flag of a resisting nation belongs in the sky, not on the ground.

For months, the Palestinian people have been fighting for humanity, equality, and freedom against a genocidal massacre. For months, the hearts of millions of people from all over the world have been with the innocent and oppressed people of Gaza.

'PAINTING THE FLAG ON A WALKING ROUTE IS HURTFUL'

We are aware of the sensitivity regarding this issue, in which people from all walks of life in our country have taken their place on the side of humanity against the genocidal perpetrators, and where I have clearly stated my stance since the first day, and we find it very valuable.

However, especially painting the flag of a nation fighting for its existence on a walking route is hurtful and wrong. Every nation's flag is sacred. For this reason, it became mandatory for us to remove the flag painting on the stairs. The Handala image, one of the symbolic drawings of the Palestinian cause, has been hung on the wall symbolically and will be applied permanently in the near future. The Palestinian flag will take its place in a spot that suits it.

We thank our security forces who accompanied our teams during the implementation."

The flag of a resisting nation belongs in the sky, not on the ground.

For months, the Palestinian people have been fighting for humanity, equality, and freedom against a genocidal massacre. For months, the hearts of millions of people from all over the world have been with the innocent and oppressed people of Gaza.

In our country as well, people from all walks of life... https://t.co/PY2PomHVpt
— inan güney (@inanguney) August 5, 2024