15,000 police officers on duty for ‘justice march’ in Istanbul, Governor says
ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency
Some 15,000 police officers will be on duty for the “Justice Rally,” held to mark the completion of the 25-day march from Ankara to Istanbul started by main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Istanbul Governor Vasip Şahin said on July 9.Speaking to reporters at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport, Şahin said he hoped the rally would be concluded “safely and soundly.”
“I hope the rally will be held and will end safely and soundly, as an event that will please participants,” he said.
Throughout the course of the march from the capital Ankara to Istanbul, Kılıçdaroğlu and supporters have been accompanied by police teams, and they entered the Istanbul provincial boundaries on July 7.
Meanwhile, changes have been made to Kılıçdaroğlu’s walk plans on the final day of the march. As a result, he will walk two kilometers with fellow CHP deputies and a group of participants but will walk alone for the final kilometer.
He had previously stated he would walk alone to the rally in Istanbul’s Maltepe district on July 9.
The march was kicked off on June 15 after a court sentenced CHP deputy Enis Berberoğlu to 25 years in jail on charges of “leaking state secrets” regarding a National Intelligence Organization (MİT) truck sending weapons to Syria.
