Investigation launched into 26 people over press release against cancellation of Kazdağı Ecology Festival

Seçkin Sağlam / Gazete Duvar

An investigation has been launched into 26 people over their June 20-dated press release protesting against the cancellation of Kazdağı (Mount Ida in English) Ecology Festival.

The Forestry Ministry has canceled the festival in Balıkesir’s Edremit district, organized by KazDağı Natural and Cultural Heritage Association, for the fourth year in a row, on the grounds that “a fire might break out.”

After the cancellation, the association wanted to hold the festival in Balıkesir’s Bayramiç district, which was rejected by the Bayramiç District Governor’s Office.

Following this, the association held a press release in front of the Bayramiç District Governor’s Office on June 20. 

KazDağı Natural and Cultural Heritage Association head Süheyla Doğan on June 21 said that she was informed by the police that an investigation was launched into those who attended the press release.

Doğan said the reason for the investigation was “to make a press statement in front of a public institution.”

“It is a public space. Therefore, I find it strange that an investigation was launched because of this. I said (in my testimony) that I was exercising my democratic and constitutional right. Then they asked me to identify those who participated in the press release. I said that it was not correct for me to reveal the identity of them,” Doğan added.

Kazdağı EKOFEST was held for the first time in 2014. It was cancelled in 2016 due to coup attempt, in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2022 and 2023 due to a “risk of fire.” So, Kazdağı EKOFEST was held only five times in 10 years, with the cancellation of the sixth planned festival this year.

(English version by Alperen Şen)