Responding to the unlawful three-day blanket ban on all protests issued by the Istanbul governor and reports of unlawful use of force by police against protestors, Esther Major, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Research in Europe, said:
“The Turkish authorities’ crackdown on protestors in Istanbul on Sunday and Monday is the latest chapter in an ongoing pattern of police violence that has marred the country for over a decade.
“Blanket bans on protest are a disproportionate restriction on the right of peaceful assembly. Moreover, according to evidence seen by Amnesty International, police used both unnecessary and disproportionate force – deploying water cannons, kinetic impact projectiles and pepper spray against largely peaceful protesters.
“Turkish authorities must immediately lift the blanket ban and refrain from imposing these bans in future. Authorities have a duty to protect and facilitate the right of peaceful assembly, not to prevent or restrict it. The authorities must also investigate the allegations of unlawful police use of force, bring the perpetrators to justice, and ensure victims receive redress for the harms they were subjected to.”
Background
Last week, an Istanbul court ruled to suspend the Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) Istanbul provincial leadership from duty. The court appointed a temporary board in their place.
On 7 September, the Istanbul governor issued a three day blanket ban on meetings and demonstrations. Hundreds of police officers were deployed to block roads leading to and surrounding the Istanbul headquarters of the CHP. That evening, largely peaceful protesters tried to gather at the headquarters to protest the court order but faced police barriers.
According to internet watchdog NetBlocks, late on Sunday evening internet speed became limited and major social media platforms and messaging services such as X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and WhatsApp were restricted for at least 21 hours.
According to media reports, a number of protesters were detained.
Three people are also being held in pre-trial detention for their social media posts in relation to the protests. The General Directorate of Security announced that a total of 103 accounts were identified as having shared “provocative and disinformation content.”
