Ban on public, collective action ongoing for five years in eastern Van

A ban on public and collective action that was enacted during the state of emergency that followed the coup attempt of July 15, 2016 has been ongoing for five years in the eastern province of Van.

Thursday December 09 2021 07:15 pm

Duvar English

The holding of protests, events, meetings and demonstrations, which are a constitutional right in Turkey, has been banned by the governor’s office in the eastern province of Van, Deutsche Welle Turkish reported on Dec. 7.

This ban was implemented across the entire country under the state of emergency that was declared after the coup attempt on Jul. 15 2016. Though the ban was lifted in other provinces, it was maintained in Van and it remains unknown as to how long it will be upheld.

The ban has paralyzed political parties and NGOs operating in Van. All concerts, theater plays, press releasers, marches, sit-ins, surveys, stands, petitions, leaflets and flyers are subject to the governor’s authorization, which denies them. Opposition parties, including the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which received 54 percent of the votes in Van the local elections in 2019, was the most affected by the ban.

“As we wanted to deliver a statement on the World Environment Day, we went to Erçis with three members of the press and three members of our organization. But hundreds of security guards, dozens of vehicles and armored vehicles were brought in. They expelled us from the district with a convoy,” Ali Kalçik, the head of the Van Historical Works Conservation, Research and Development (ÇEV-DER), said.

Lawyers in Van repeatedly took the governor’s decision to the courts. Yet the courts rejected all the lawsuits. Lawyer Mahmut Kaçan appealed and took the courts’ rejection to the Erzurum Regional Administrative Court. But the Court of Appeals stated that the ban in Van was in accordance with the law.

Whilst extending the ban, the governor’s office stated that it aimed to ensure the safety of its citizens, eradicate terrorist organizations as well as protect public order and general health.

Ali Kalçik begs to differ. “There is no security issue here. It’s just a way to silence the opposition. It’s fascism,” he said.

The local ban does not apply to activities led by the ruling party or institutions close to the government. A stand for member registration opened by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on the busiest streets of the city was allowed, whereas a similar stand led by the HDP was not permitted.