Eskisehir Halkevi hung the banner saying “We can’t live, let the price hikes be reversed” from its branch office. However, the banner was lowered by the Governor’s Office in the morning with a crane. The Eskisehir police department issued a fine of 18 thousand liras to the Peoples’ Houses organization for the banner.
Eskisehir Governor’s Office responded to the appeal against the 18,000 lira fine issued to the “We Can’t Afford to Live!” banner: “No irregularities”
After a fine of 18,000 liras was issued for the banner hung at Eskisehir Halkevi organization, the members read a statement in front of the Eskisehir courthouse. The Halkevleri (Peoples’ Houses) participants filed an appeal for the cancellation of the very high administrative fine. Eskisehir Governor’s Office wrote a response petition to the court stating that the banner that read, “We can’t afford to live” contained a “criminal element” and that the place where the banner was hung was a “busy street”.
Eskisehir Halkevi hung the banner saying “We can’t live, let the price hikes be reversed” from its branch office. However, the banner was lowered by the Governor’s Office in the morning with a crane. The Eskisehir police department issued a fine of 18 thousand liras to the Peoples’ Houses organization for the banner.
In its response to the court, the governor’s office repeated claims that the banner “may incite hatred in the public, implicate the institutions and organs of the state, and pit groups of different opinions against each other.”
The governor’s office also said it was appropriate to issue a maximum fine for the banner hung on the People’s House building because it was “on a busy street.” Claiming that the banner would be considered as hanging in public space or public buildings rather than hanging from the association’s building, the Governor’s Office said in its response petition that “law enforcement or municipal police officers decide the on these misdemeanors.”
Sendika.Org News (MB)