Hatay Governor Announces Ban on Demonstrations

Hatay Governor Mehmet Celalettin Lekesiz yesterday announced they would no longer permit any demonstrations or press statements in the southern border province.

"[We] will no longer permit de facto illegal demonstration marches under the guise of press statements from now on [to uphold] the peace of our province, our social life and each of our citizens," he said after a meeting with representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) inside the governor's office.

Governor Lekesiz spoke about the press declaration that took place in Hatay on the occasion of World Peace Day on Sept. 1 and said he felt apprehensive about the slogans chanted in that demonstration, including "Antakya off to the streets to chase Al-Qaeda away."

Claims that Al-Qaeda militants were among the Syrian rebels who took refuge in the province began to surface after the Apaydın Syrian rebel camp captured the attention of the public.

"These are extremely alarming [statements that could] damage the social peace in our province in the future," Governor Lekesiz added.

Some 25,000 people, including members of the Labor Party, the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK,) the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK,) the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP,) and the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) gathered before the governor's office on Sept. 1to declare their opposition to an "Imperialist Intervention in Syria," chanting slogans in Turkish and Arabic.

Members of the Refugees Sub-commission of Parliament's Human Rights Commission are also going to be paying a visit to the refugee camps in Hatay today, including the controversial Apaydın camp. (AS)