The Van Governorate forcibly hung Erdogan's campaign photo on a shopping mall in Van despite the objection of local shopkeepers. The photo is protected by police officers who keep guard for 24 hours.
Security measures have been tightened in the province of Van before the rally to be held by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the city on May 5. All public institutions are preparing for Erdogan's rally.
As part of the preparations for the rally, AKP Van Provincial Party Administration, Van Governorate and trustee municipality took action to hang a giant banner with a photo of Erdoğan and AKP’s campaign slogan "Right time, Right man" on the Maraş Street, which is the busiest street in the city and will be used by Erdoğan on the day of the rally. After failing to find a suitable place, the officials eventually found an empty wall to hang a giant poster of Erdoğan, facing objections from the owner of the building, the residents and the shopkeepers.
The AKP and the Governor's Office deployed police officers in front of the building in question, and the banner was forcibly hanged. Shopkeepers and building residents were threatened by the police, saying, "You will be prosecuted for insulting the President". The citizens filed a complaint, which was rejected by the Prosecutor's Office, arguing that "It is legal to hang this banner before the arrival of the President."
The banner was hung about 3 days ago and remains under police protection for 24 hours a day.
