TURKEY: “I Love Erdoğan” posters removed in Izmir

IZMIR, Turkey – With human right violations by Turkish regime reaching intolerable levels, Turkish activists recently posted a “Stop Erdoğan” banner in protest on New York City’s famous TImes Square in an attempt to draw attention of the world public opinion to these crimes and abuses.

In response to the banner, the local Justice and Development Party (AKP) members and Erdoğan supporters put up “I love Erdoğan” posters in the streets of the city of Avas-Selcuk in the Turkish state of Izmir. Municipal authorities however, removed the posters from the streets on Monday because they were put up without the permission, reports Turkish newspaper Zaman.

According to the statement issued by the municipality of Avas-Selcuk, all acts and actions carried out within the city limits must be in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Turkey. The statement noted that public authorities are obliged to uphold the legal system, explaining that this action by the ruling AKP is the result of political hubris.

Izmir is a stronghold of the Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (Republican People’s Party) which is currently in fierce opposition to President Erdoğan and ultra-nationalist coalition partner National Action Party (MHP).

It seems Erdoğan supporters have also earlier responded on the same Times Square…

I am all for stopping Gülen, don’t get me wrong.

But if there is even one person in Times Square who knows what a “GULEN” is and why we should “STOP” it, I’ll eat my hat. pic.twitter.com/HHTyMJUVHw

— Can Okar (@canokar) March 14, 2021