01.07.2026 10:40
Sakarya Governorate banned demonstrations, press releases, and rallies across the city from July 1 to 10. The decision was made for security reasons ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara.
The Sakarya Governorate reported that demonstrations, press releases, rallies, and similar actions are banned across the city until July 10.
In a statement made on the Governorate's social media account, it was stated that ensuring public order and security, fulfilling international obligations, ensuring the safety of participants, and protecting critical public institutions and infrastructure are of great importance within the scope of the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit to be held in Ankara on July 7-8.
In the statement, it was noted that, according to information obtained from social media and open sources, it is assessed that before, during, and after the summit, anti-NATO groups, terrorist organizations, and individuals linked to them may seek protest and provocative actions, and that public order may be disrupted due to disinformation activities on social media.
EMPHASIS ON DISINFORMATION AND PUBLIC ORDER
In this context, it was stated that, in order to ensure national security, public order and safety, prevent crime, and protect citizens' life and property safety, it has been decided to ban all possible meetings, demonstrations, rallies, press releases, protests, sit-ins, tent setups, hunger strikes, stands, posters, banners, and similar actions and events across the province, except for events deemed appropriate by the Governorate and District Governorate authorities and official ceremonies, commemorations, celebrations, sports activities, and scientific, commercial, and economic events, in accordance with Articles 17 and 19 of the Law on Meetings and Demonstration Marches and Article 11 of the Provincial Administration Law, for a period of 10 days from July 1 at 00:01 to July 10 at 23:59. It was also stated that it has been decided not to allow individuals and groups likely to participate in unlawful actions to enter, exit, or pass through the provincial borders.