The Police Attack People in Gazi Quarter, İstanbul

On July 26, police used tear gas and water cannon on groups gathered in Gazi Quarter Djemevi of İstanbul for the funeral ceremony of Günay Özarslan, a member of Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C), who was killed during police operation carried out on July 24.

Dicle News Agency (DİHA) reporter, Cüneyt Yavuz, was injured with a gas canister. It was claimed that police shot at close range and fired real guns from place to place.

Some groups reacted policemen with stick and stones and Molotov cocktails.

Funeral ceremony of deceased DHKP/C member couldn’t be performed due to police attacks the previous day.

General President of Federation of Alevi and Bektashi, Baki Düzgün, said police didn’t allow them to hold funeral ceremony for days.

A police officer, Muhammet Fatih Sivri, lost his life and two people were injured during police attack.

Governor of İstanbul, Vasip Şahin, stated:

“Our security forces don’t prevent funeral ceremony to be held. However, we don’t allow illegal organizations to make their own propaganda."

8 deputies from Republican People’s Party (CHP) called for security forces to stop using force and permit funeral ceremony.

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) İstanbul deputy Ali Kenanoğlu told bianet that the police started to attack on Djemevi and neighborhood today at 7 a.m. and the tension went on. (EKN/HK/BD)

 Click here to read the article in Turkish