AKP municipal council members assault residents opposing Kanal Istanbul
Residents who attended the meeting at Başakşehir Municipal Council regarding the urban transformation decision taken due to the Kanal Istanbul project were physically assaulted by the AKP members.
Duvar English
Residents of Istanbul's Başakşehir district, who have been resisting eviction from their homes due to the "urban transformation" decision taken as part of the Kanal Istanbul project, were attacked by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) members during a municipal council meeting.
During the monthly city council meeting on Jan. 9, where a proposal granting Başakşehir Municipality the authority for land purchases and sales was approved, AKP Deputy Mayor Ahmet Melik and council members attacked attendees.
In a statement regarding the incident, Şahintepe Neighborhood People's Solidarity stated that during the meeting, which was open to public participation, AKP council members assaulted those who protested the decision at the end of the session.
"Our friends responded to the attacks by Ahmet Melik and other AKP council members, who first provoked the public and then hurled insults and threats. A friend recording the incident was pushed down the stairs in an attempt to prevent the documentation of what transpired," the statement said.
Kanal Istanbul is one of the mega-projects of the AKP which proposes to build an alternative route to Istanbul's famous Bosphorus despite various court rulings and strong opposition from political parties, residents, scientists, and environmentalists.
Başakşehir district is one of the areas where the infamous canal project was set to goes through.