Police halt Defense March by bar associations in Eskişehir

The Judicial March launched by dozens of bar associations towards Ankara, was blocked by the police at the entrance of the Eskişehir road. The police said they would not allow the march.

The march that 53 bars started from many cities towards Ankara continues on the fourth day. The structure of the bars and the arrangement to be made in the election system are protested and an independent judiciary is requested.

Ankara Bar Association President Erinç Sağkan and many lawyers, are waiting for the presidents and members of the bar associations coming from other cities at the entrance of Eskişehir road.

Öztürk Türkdoğan, co-chair of the Human Rights Association (IHD), also supported the action.

The police stopped the protesters when other bar associations were only a short distance away from the meeting point. The police said that they would not allow a march on Eskişehir road on the grounds that it “disrupt public order”.

Negotiations continue while the police prevent the two groups from meeting. If the march is allowed, the bar associations will first visit Anıtkabir in Ankara, then they will go to the Parliament to bring their demands.