Turkish district governor bans CHP’s exhibition about hikes due to potential for turning into rally

Duvar English

Istanbul’s Eyüpsultan District Governor’s Office on Aug. 4 banned a mobile exhibition organized by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul provincial branch about the government's hikes and rising cost of living. 

The governor's office did not allow party’s stand to be set up in the district’s square on the grounds that it could "turn into a rally.” It claimed that the vehicle in which the exhibition was organized can be transformed into a stage which makes it possible for organizing a rally, and that it was forbidden to hold rallies in the square in question. 

The office also stated that the square was crowded during Friday prayers and posed a security risk.

The CHP has planned to travel all districts of the city and already visited several without any prevention. The exhibition shows many products with their price compared with 50 days ago and the rate of increase was also added as a note.

The CHP Istanbul announced that its Provincial Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu will be at Eyüpsultan Square today despite the ban.

After the announcement of the official mid-year inflation as 19.77 percent, the government implemented several tax hikes affecting the prices of all products. This has deepened the cost of living crisis in the country as the hunger threshold surpasses minimum wage.