Turkey bans rally by activists mourning colleagues

[oberliner]

Source: AP via Washington Post

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish authorities on Tuesday banned a protest rally and march by trade union and civic society activists who lost friends and colleagues in Turkey’s bloodiest terror attack, but hundreds of people defiantly gathered for the protest.

The two suicide bombings on Saturday came amid political uncertainty in the country — just weeks before Turkey’s Nov. 1 election which is in effect a re-run of an inconclusive June election. The bombings raised fears that the NATO country, a candidate for European Union membership, may be heading toward a period of instability.

The blasts have further polarized Turkey as it grapples with more than 2 million refugees and tries to avoid being drawn into the chaos in neighboring Syria and Iraq.

Dogan news agency video footage on Tuesday showed police pushing back a group of demonstrators trying to reach the rally to commemorate the 97 victims of the two blasts.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/turkey-bans-rally-by-activists-mourning-colleagues/2015/10/13/350b30a8-7184-11e5-ba14-318f8e87a2fc_story.html

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. Erdogan and company need to be escorted from the political scene.