Debate over Kazl?çe?me rallies boils

Two opposition parties have each said they will hold election rallies this weekend at Kazl?çe?me Square in Istanbul?s Zeytinburnu district, despite repeated rejections to use the area, which the Zeytinburnu District Election Board said was ?unavailable for rallies.?

The controversy erupted as the Istanbul Governorate said on May 26 the Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP) would not be allowed to hold an election rally on May 30 at Kazl?çe?me Square, after the HDP had asked the governorate?s permission to hold a rally there. 

Later on May 27, HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirta? said on Twitter the dispute with the Istanbul Governorate over the party?s upcoming rally at Kazl?çe?me Square had been resolved and the rally would be held on May 30 at 3:00 p.m. as planned. The HDP added their rally on May 30 would be an hour earlier to avoid a potential confrontation between HDP supporters and the attendees of the celebrations of Istanbul?s conquest anniversary the same day in the nearby district of Yenikap?. 

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an and Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu are expected to attend the anniversary celebrations.

Demirta? has accused the Istanbul Governor?s Office of risking provocation between AKP supporters and HDP supporters by arranging to hold the celebrations of the anniversary of Istanbul?s conquest on the same day as the planned HDP rally.

The Istanbul Governor?s Office on May 27, said in a written statement it was not authorized, according to Turkish election law, to allow or forbid any form of open-air rallies in the final 10 days before the elections, adding the authorization could only be issued by the District Election Boards.

The Zeytinburnu District Election Board, however, said later on May 27 that...