Over 10,000 people are protesting the deterioration of the climate

Mthere are 10,000 protesters today protesting against the deterioration of the world climate and in defense of human rights in Antalia, where the 31st United Nations Conference on Climate Change is held this year (COP31).

“A long time ago there was not a demonstration in Turkey with so much participation,” said a spokesman for the organizing committee, Nil Ormanli, in statements to the DPA news agency.

The call came from many Turkish organisations and was supported by opposition unions and parties as well as international organisations.

The authorities authorized the protest in a country where it is customary to ban such mass concentrations, but the 10,000 participants, according to the numbers of the organization itself, had to show their posters in the police controls before they could join the demonstration, which traveled one kilometre from Aydin Kanza Park to Republic Square.

Among the participants was German Secretary of State for Culture, Claudia Roth, who called for moderation by Turkish security forces.

“ There should be no assaults or arrests, I can only warn you of that,” he said, before defending the demonstration as “an essential part” of any climate summit.

In recent months, raids have taken place against LGTBI associations and demonstrations have been banned during the NATO summit in Ankara in July.

COP31 will take place until Friday and intends to extend the commitments already reached to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or extend climate financing to developing countries.