Istanbul police attack peace rally, detain several

Turkish police on Sept. 5 attacked several people who wanted to attend a rally organized by the Istanbul Labor Peace and Democracy Forces to mark the Sept. 1 World Peace Day. The police encircled the journalists and HDP MP Musa Piroğlu with their shields and did not let them leave the Tünel Square at the southern end of İstiklal Caddesi in the Beyoğlu district.

Monday September 06 2021 01:41 pm

Duvar English

Istanbul police on Sept. 5 prevented a rally organized by the Istanbul Labor Peace and Democracy Forces to mark the Sept. 1 World Peace Day.

The event was initially scheduled to be held at the Bakırköy Bazaar Area, but was later banned by the Interior Ministry, as a result of which the Istanbul Governor's Office withdrew its prior permission.

The Istanbul Labor Peace and Democracy Forces, later on, called on everyone to attend the rally in the Beyoğlu district.

Hundreds of people gathered in front of the underground tunnel (“Taksim Tünel”) on Sept. 5, among whom was also Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker Musa Piroğlu.

The police encircled the journalists and Piroğlu with their shields and did not let them leave the area.

Turkish police set up a barricade around HDP MP Musa Piroğlu during the event.

Afterwards, they detained Şahin Tümüklü, the chair of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP).

The police later attacked a group of people who wanted to march towards the Tünel Square and blockaded journalists who want to document this incident by raising their shields up in the air.

The ralliers later marched towards the Karaköy district and announced that 57 people had been so far detained.

Once the police eventually lifted the blockade, HDP MP Piroğlu held a press meeting on his own at the Tünel Square.

“This rulership is most scared of the demand of peace in this country. This rulership is most scared that HDP voters stand side by side with other critics in this country. This is what will wear down the rulership. This is why they are trying to isolate and terrorize us under blockade,” Piroğlu said.