Five Turkish governors impose protest bans ahead of pro-Kurdish DEM Party’s rally

Duvar English

As of Oct. 9, governor’s offices of at least five provinces in eastern Turkey have banned all protests and events in the cities ahead of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party's planned “Freedom Rallies.”

Diyarbakır Governor on Oct. 8 announced that all public protests in open spaces were banned for five days between Oct. 9-13.

The governor's office stated, "It has been assessed that, starting from Oct. 9, in response to the calls from the terrorist organization PKK/KCK, widespread illegal activities may be carried out by structures sympathetic to terrorism in our province. Provocative actions aimed at damaging our national unity and solidarity could be carried out, leading to serious disturbances in public order and security during the rally.”

Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan was deported from Syria on Oct. 9, 1998 and arrested by Turkish authorities in 1999. The DEM Party deemed this date “October 9th International Conspiracy” against Öcalan while PKK has been outlawed in Turkey.

DEM Party had announced that it would organize a rally in Diyarbakır on Oct. 13 with the slogan, "Peace against war, freedom against isolation; we resist the conspiracy, we meet in Amed for freedom."

Governors also imposed protest bans for Oct. 9-13 in Van, Oct. 10-14 in Mardin and Oct. 10-13 in Hakkari on the same grounds.

Additional restrictions will be also placed on entering and leaving provinces, according to the press releases by the authorities.

Batman Governor on Oct. 9 also announced that all protests and events were banned in the province until Oct. 13.

The moves came despite the ruling alliance signaled a reconciliation with the DEM Party this week, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his ally, MHP leader ultra-nationalist Devlet Bahçeli.