Istanbulites to IOC: “Don’t Select Our City”

Esteemed members of the IOC;

This is a call from two human rights organizations, Urban Movements Istanbul / HIC (Habitat International Coalition) and People’s Houses on behalf the citizens of Istanbul from all ages, social and political backgrounds, associations, ideologies and beliefs.

From 28 May to 15 June, Istanbulites had been attacked five times, each time more brutal than the last, by a riot police commanded by a government totally unaware of the concepts of conscience and humanity. The protesters had peacefully occupied Gezi Park, the largest public park around Taksim Square (see video), opposing its demolishment for a commercial project.

The attacks have terrified the whole city while tourists, nonprotestors (some of whom were also injured) and vulnerable groups such as children, elderly and the sick and disabled were adversely affected. The whole city suffocated under mass clouds of gas. Police threw pepper gas canisters into enclosed spaces such as subway stations, restaurants, cafes, and even inside hospitals and houses, where people escaped and took refuge. Helicopters also threw gas bombs from the air. International human rights norms and humanitarian law on wartime conditions were grossly violated.

Starting from the first attack on the 28th, the use of force has been disproportional, with excessive use of tear gas and pepper gas bombs over limits and used directly toward the face of whoever is around (According to the newspapers, 130,000 gas cartridges were consumed in 20 days); rubber bullets and water cannons were also used. The water sprayed by the cannons contained an unknown chemical substance of acidic nature, many people with rashes and itches, skin allergies and open skin lesions were observed among the wounded. Rubber bullets were used frequently.

Moreover, due to the deliberate use of canisters by the police to target and hit unarmed people; thousands were injured, and 12 people lost their eyes during demonstrations. There are four deaths up to now, yet more are expected. Two persons fatally injured were put to rest. The protests have spread to the other cities, and nearly 10,000 people have been injured throughout Turkey, 23 of them fatally.

Negotiations between the representatives of the protestors and Prime Minister had started on 13 June and, as a conciliatory sign, protesters removed some of the tents in the park. Unexpectedly, the last intervention took place on 15 June, as the riot police launched a severe attack on Gezi Park against the peaceful crowd that had festively gathered there all day long, believing in the negotiations.

As was done previously, but then most brutally of all, the police attacked wantonly with tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets and concussion bombs. Hundreds of people suffered injuries. All the hotels around Taksim Square where helpless as crowds fled were bombed several times. The wounded, who were brought into the makeshift infirmary at the nearby Divan Hotel, were re-bombed countless times. German Green Part Deputy Claudia Roth was in Divan Hotel when the hotel was attacked.

The right to peaceful assembly and to demonstrate, the right to freedom of expression, the freedom of opinion and, most important of all, the right to life have been violated by the government, while none of the perpetrators have been convicted so far. The police chief and the governor of Istanbul are still at their posts safe and sound! On the other hand, it is very ironic that lawyers exercising their right to protest in solidarity for Gezi were taken into custody.

While the government has openly overruled all norms of human rights in front of the whole world, its spokespeople and the governor of Istanbul have chosen to address the national and international public in a reckless manner, fabricating stories about “marginal groups” and “vandalism.” Never before have dignity and pride been so brutally vandalized!

Esteemed members of the IOC,

The ideals of Olympic Games rest on excellence, respect and friendship, with respect for development, peace and the environment. We are sending you reports of international NGOs and organizations and some of the hundreds of videos documenting the disproportionate use of force by the police. This is material evidence of the brutality with which the government violates the ideals of the Olympics. Against this backdrop, keeping Istanbul on the list of Olympic host-city applicants would be tantamount to pepper-gassing these ideals. Having Istanbul on the list would mean bombing Olympic values.

Last but not the least, if Istanbul becomes the host city, it is very evident from this experience how any protest during the Games will be approached by the government. Even the smallest, the most minute, the most peaceful protest, demonstration or rally bears the potential of igniting an explosion under such an antidemocratic rule as already has been experienced.

Considering the sudden top-down decision-making process of the present government in conjunction with urban development, and considering that these projects are implemented without any consultation with the local communities and citizens to be impacted, it is more than probable that infrastructure for Olympics will bring about another wave of protests.

The Gezi protests spread nationwide not because of the Gezi Park demolition alone, but because thousands voiced their anger against urban transformation project that engendered demolitions, forced evictions and also against all urbanicide / ecocide projects. Four million trees on the Black Sea coast are being cut down to open space for the 3rd Bosphorus Bridge, the environmental impacts of the Canal might lead to a natural disaster not only for Istanbul and Turkey, but for neighbouring countries as well.

The Olympics would be exploited by the government to construct legitimacy for these and other obscene pet projects of the PM. Hence, one does not need to be a fortune teller to see what will happen in case Istanbul becomes the Olympics host city. What has happened this month provides sufficient evidence to project the future. We urge you not to become accomplices of these human rights violations and brutalities, but take the initiative and take Istanbul off of the List 2020.

After what has been experienced by Istanbulites, keeping Istanbul as a potential host city means taking sides with an atrocious government that disgraces Olympic ideals and democratic values. We, as Istanbulites, whose public spaces and lives are threatened, and whose rights to demonstrate against these violations and to freedom of expression are still under threat, appeal to you in order to reclaim the honour of Olympic ideals. We hereby insist that the IOC immediately remove Istanbul from the list of cities for Olympics 2020 immediately.

Urban Movements / HIC People’s Houses

Reports:

Human Rights Watch:

http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/06/11/turkey-istanbul-police-attacks-undermine-talks

Amnesty International:

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/turkey-must-halt-brutal-police-repression-and-investigate-abuses-istanbul-protest-2013-05-31

http://humanrightsturkey.org/

European Parliament:

http://chpbxl.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/european-parliament-democracy-in-turkey-resolution-13-june-2013.pdf

UN-OHCHR Press Briefing:

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=13401&LangID=E

Art‎cles: