Istanbul Gezi Park To Stay

Plans to build over the site of Istanbul’s Gezi Park have been
overturned by a court ruling, it was revealed on Wednesday. 

The decision was originally taken at the beginning of June, but, for
reasons that remain unclear, has only just come to light.

Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News reported that the court’s
decison was definitive. It was taken by Istanbul’s first Regional
Court in response to the government’s appeal against an earlier court 
ruling in May against the construction plans. 

Prof. Dr. Deniz İncedayı, of the Istanbul Chamber of Architects, one
of the bodies which filed the complaint to the court, told the
Hürriyet Daily News that the court’s decision “emphasizes that this
project is against the public interest and modern urbanization
understanding”.

The controversial proposals sparked outrage across the country, acting
as a lightning rod for wider grievances against President Erdogan’s
government.

Since protests began in late May, four people have been killed, with
up to 8 thousand wounded.  Lawyers are currently investigating claims
of excessive use of force by the police.