25.03.2025 12:40
Following the protests that began after the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in Ankara, the ban on demonstrations has been extended. The Ankara Governorship has decided to extend the ban on meetings and marches until 11:59 PM on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
The protests that began in many provinces following the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu continued with his arrest. The Ankara Governorship decided to extend the ban on demonstration marches and press statements across the province from Tuesday, March 25, until 23:59 on Tuesday, April 1. In the statement made by the governorship, it was noted that necessary judicial and administrative actions would be taken against those who do not comply with the ban.
GOVERNORATE STATEMENT
In a statement made by the Ankara Governorship, the following was stated: "In the context of the investigations conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it has been determined that there is information that unlawful meetings and demonstration marches, followed by acts of violence, will be carried out by provoking the public through provocative posts made on media and similar platforms and other information obtained. Therefore, a ban decision numbered 423736, dated March 21, 2025, was announced to the public with details shared by our governorship.
Despite the aforementioned ban decision, it has been observed that unauthorized actions and events continue throughout our province, and that threats to public safety and damage to public property have been created by the use of violence by those participating in these actions.
In this context, in order to ensure peace and security, the inviolability of the person, the safety related to property, public welfare, national security, public order, prevention of crime, general health, and general morality, or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others, preventive law enforcement measures have been taken to prevent actions constituting crimes and to establish general order. Therefore, meetings in closed and open places, demonstration marches, press statements, setting up tents, opening stands, sit-ins, signature campaigns, and similar types of actions and events, as well as the distribution of leaflets and the hanging of banners/posters, have been banned from 00:00 on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, until 23:59 on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in accordance with Articles 17 and 19 of the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911 and paragraphs (A) and (C) of Article 11 of the Provincial Administration Law No. 5442. Necessary judicial and administrative actions will be taken against those who do not comply with the aforementioned orders and bans in accordance with the relevant legislation."